Sagastad Viking Museum

The largest Viking ship ever discovered in Norway was found in Nordfjordeid in 1874. Yet, unlike the famous Oseberg and Gokstad ships at Vikingtidmuseet Bygdøy in Oslo, there was not much of it left to put in a museum. The Vikings had burned it.

Today, more than a thousand years after its dramatic final journey, the enormous Myklebust Ship has risen from the ashes. A full-scale reconstruction stands inside the Sagastad Viking Centre in Nordfjordeid.

And this is certainly not a small museum model. The ship is around 30 metres long – and you can even climb aboard.

The largest Viking ship ever found in Norway

The Myklebust Ship is the largest Viking ship ever found in Norway. It was approximately 30 metres long and six metres wide. Archaeologists estimate that it had 24 pairs of oars and around 48 shields along its sides.

That makes it larger than both the famous Oseberg and Gokstad ships. However, there is one important difference. Those ships survived. The Myklebust Ship did not. Its story ended sometime during the second half of the ninth century. The ship became part of an enormous Viking funeral.

Then they set it on fire. 🔥

A Viking funeral on a massive scale

In 1874, young archaeologist Anders Lorange arrived in Nordfjordeid to investigate a huge burial mound at Myklebust farm. The mound was known locally as Rundehågjen. It measured around 30 metres across and almost four metres high. Inside, Lorange discovered the remains of an extraordinary Viking burial.
Around 7,000 iron rivets and nails revealed that an enormous ship had once been there. Archaeologists also discovered weapons, jewellery, game pieces and other valuable objects.

The burned human remains had been placed inside a beautiful Celtic bronze vessel. However, the ship itself had almost completely disappeared.

This was no accident. The ship had been deliberately burned during the burial ceremony. Afterwards, the remains were covered by the enormous burial mound. Whoever was buried here was clearly a very powerful person.

Was this the grave of a Viking king?

We do not know for certain who was buried with the Myklebust Ship. But there is a fascinating possibility.
The grave dates from the second half of the ninth century. At that time, King Audbjørn ruled the kingdom of the Fjords.

According to the sagas, Audbjørn fought against Harald Fairhair during the struggle to unite Norway. Snorri Sturluson tells us that King Audbjørn was killed during the Battle of Solskjel, off the coast of Nordmøre.

Could his body have been returned to Nordfjordeid and given a spectacular royal funeral? Possibly. The size of the ship, the location of the grave and the valuable objects all indicate an extremely important person.

What we do know is that a 30-metre Viking ship was not something you burned for just anyone.

The forgotten Viking giant

There is a simple reason why the Myklebust Ship never became as famous as Oseberg or Gokstad. When the Gokstad Ship was excavated in 1880, archaeologists uncovered a remarkably well-preserved Viking ship. Then came the spectacular Oseberg discovery in 1904.
Those ships could be preserved, displayed and admired.

At Myklebust, archaeologists mainly had thousands of nails, ashes and fragments. Gradually, the giant ship from Nordfjordeid slipped into the shadows. But the archaeological evidence remained. More than a century later, people in Nordfjordeid decided to bring the ship back.

Rebuilding the Myklebust Ship

Construction of a full-scale reconstruction began in 2016. Experienced traditional boatbuilders from nearby Bjørkedalen took on the enormous task.

This was particularly appropriate. Bjørkedalen has an exceptionally long tradition of wooden boatbuilding. Traditional skills have survived here through generations. Using archaeological evidence and traditional boatbuilding knowledge, the builders recreated how they believe the Myklebust Ship may have looked.

The new ship was completed and launched onto the fjord in spring 2019. And yes – it floats. This is a real vessel, not simply an exhibition piece. The Myklebust Ship is launched on special occasions and can be rowed on the fjord.

Most of the year, however, the giant ship rests safely inside Sagastad. Visitors can walk right up to it. Better still, you can go aboard.

More Viking history at Sagastad

The Myklebust Ship may be the star, but Sagastad tells a much larger story. The centre has 16 exhibition stations covering Viking life, death, journeys, mythology and the archaeological discoveries around Nordfjordeid.

You can explore a Viking Age version of Nordfjordeid through VR and study archaeological finds in 3D. There is also a cinema and several interactive displays. The exhibition explores the mysterious funeral at Myklebust and the possible connection to King Audbjørn.

It also explains why Nordfjordeid appears to have been an important centre of power during the Viking Age. The burial mounds at Myklebust were used for around 200 years. The oldest dated graves are from the second half of the eighth century. The youngest are from the middle of the tenth century.

For generations, powerful people were clearly living here.

Find the original burial site

When you have seen the reconstructed ship, you can also visit the place where the original was discovered. The Myklebust burial mounds are within walking distance of Sagastad. You can also combine your visit with a walk through Nordfjordeid and the Saga Park beside the centre. Standing beside the reconstructed ship is impressive.
Walking to the place where its burned remains were discovered makes the story even better.

Practical info

Sagastad is located beside the fjord in the centre of Nordfjordeid. Free parking is available close to the centre.

Sagastad recommends allowing around one to two hours to experience the centre properly. Add some extra time if you want to walk to the Myklebust burial mounds.

Opening hours vary during the year. Therefore, check the current information on their website before travelling.

And if you happen to visit when the Myklebust Ship is being launched, you are in for something special.

Seeing a 30-metre Viking ship inside a museum is impressive. Seeing it out on the fjord is something else entirely.

YouTube video by Life in Norway