Experience the Vikings in L'Anse aux Meadows
We are in L'Anse aux Meadows on Newfoundland and want to see how the Vikings once lived here. Blown by the wind, the northern tip of Newfoundland stretches out into the narrow strait of the Strait of Belle Isle. The strait separates the island from mainland Labrador. It's hard to believe that the Vikings reached the east coast of North America here in 1000 AD. What's even more incredible is that they chose such a harsh environment for their attempted settlement in the New World. But if you know that they headed west from their settlements in Greenland, this is understandable. Because this region must have seemed familiar to them.
Where Erik the Red went ashore in America
It was not known for a long time where Erik, the Red man and his followers had settled in America. Only Helge and Anne-Stine Ingstad, two Norwegian archaeologists, demonstrated in 1961 L'Anse aux Meadows in northern Newfoundland the remains of a Viking settlement. This shed light on the history of the Vikings in North America. Today you can see the original settlement. Right next door in the reconstructed Norstead settlement, you can experience what the life of the Vikings looked like in Newfoundland.
Viking boats
It was wooden nutshells that the Vikings used to take the long and dangerous journey across the North Atlantic. Storms and icebergs were on their way. But they were experienced seafarers. As living conditions in their homeland of Greenland deteriorated, they had reason to look for a new settlement area. They set off with their families and made their way west.
This is how the Vikings lived in L'Anse aux Meadows
They probably followed the Labrador coast south until they encountered the bay in northern Newfoundland. There they built a typical Viking settlement. The Ingstads found smelting furnaces where the Vikings melted iron and made nails. This was proof that this settlement had been built by the Norsemen. The island's natives had no knowledge of ironworking.
Iron nails as evidence - Vikings in L'Anse aux Meadows
"Stop! Women have no access here! ”This is how a young snot spoon receives me when I want to enter the Viking blacksmith's workshop. Somewhat astonished, I don't know how to behave at first. Then he suddenly grins mischievously across his face and says: "That was the way it used to be with the Vikings." Obviously, I am allowed to penetrate the male realm. Then he explains in detail how the Vikings once made iron. They melted iron-containing peat lumps in specially built forges. In this way, they obtained the raw materials for tools and nails that they needed for the construction of their accommodations and everyday life on the Newfoundland coast.
The Viking women
It is more friendly in the neighboring house, where the Viking women are about to make blankets and warm clothes and scarves - with traditional Viking methods. They work hard with only one needle on warming cuffs, which were certainly worn in the cold winter months, but also on the stormy summer days. And proudly explain to me how the wool is made from the fur of the sheep and show me how to use a spinning whorl to make the yarn out of which the colorful blankets and knitted cuffs are made.
The hard life of the Vikings
The wind is now blowing outside and rarely stops in this area. From the flat coast I look out over the Strait of Belle Isle, the narrow inlet in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. I wonder what the people thought when they tried to build a new life for themselves in this inhospitable region? It's amazing what people are capable of when necessary.
You need that on a trip to L'Anse aux Meadows
- Good hiking boots, because the paths are rough in L'Anse aux Meadows.
- A waterproof rain jacketthat protects against the fresh breeze from the sea. It blows here all the time.
- A is also very practical backpackwhere you can put your daily gear and a snack. On Picnic by the sea is fun here.
- Even if you are traveling in northern Canada, the sun can shine very intensely. Therefore forget Sunglasses*, Sunscreen with high sun protection factor * and one Wide brimmed hat does not.
If you purchase via a link marked *, we receive a commission, which we use to run this blog.
You can get information about the excavation and the findings of the Ingstads in the
L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
Opening times: June to early October
The visitor center is very informative.
A livelier visit to the Norstead Living History Museum is across the street. There, "Vikings" convey impressions of life in this village. This museum is open from mid-June to mid-September.
Do you like to travel by motorhome?
- Camping in L'Anse aux Meadows can be done here, for example:
- Viking RV Park, Quirpon Main St, Saint Lunaire-Griquet, NL A0K 2X0, Canada
- Do you want to rent a motorhome? Then you will also find information here booking options.
- Be sure to check our packing list for campers to see whether you have packed everything for your motorhome tour.
Do you know this?
- L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland
- Newfoundland Canada - the island of explorers
- Hotels in St. John's Newfoundland
- Culinary specialties in Newfoundland
- Newfoundland travel preparation blogs
- Discover Halifax attractions
- Ottawa Winterlude
- Ottawa Winterlude hotels
Other Slow Travel Destinations you can find it here, for example. Also discover others Cities in Canada.
Source for L'Anse aux Meadows: On-site research with support from Tourism Newfoundland and the Canadian Tourism Commission. Our opinions definitely remain our own.
Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
