Kaupang

Welcome to Kaupang. As you stand here amidst this sweeping pastoral landscape of southern Norway, taking your first breath of the crisp autumn air, you might find yourself slightly disoriented. …

As we enter the main visitor grounds, your eyes are immediately drawn to a pair of massive, ancient oak trees dominating the landscape. Their thick, gnarled branches reach out like protective arms over the grassy clearing. …

We now stand on a small, elevated hill looking out over the shimmering waters of the bay. Close your eyes for a moment and feel the salty breeze coming off the sea. …

You are now walking along what was once the main artery of the Viking town. Look at the dirt road stretching out before you. …

We have arrived at the commercial epicenter of Kaupang. This open area, now just another stretch of quiet earth, was once the most important marketplace in all of Scandinavia. …

As the ground levels out, we enter the lower section of the great Kaupang burial grounds. Notice how the landscape here feels a bit more uneven, dotted with subtle dips and small, rounded mounds. …

You are now standing before the most impressive and visually striking features of the entire cemetery. Look at the sheer size of these massive burial mounds constructed from thousands of rounded rocks and heavy earth. …

We have now moved into a slightly more secluded, atmospheric section of the burial woods. The light feels a bit dimmer here, filtered heavily through the dense canopy of the trees. …

Step out from the darkness of the trees and back into the bright, open expanse of the modern agricultural fields. We have now walked the full length of what was once the bustling capital of Scandinavia. …

We have circled back to the edge of the water, where the cool breeze off the bay washes over us once again. Take a long look back across the pastoral landscape we just traversed. …