Norstead, Living museum in L'Anse aux Meadows, Canada
Norstead is a reconstructed Viking settlement spread across four hectares with wooden buildings including a chieftain's hall, a church, a workshop, and a boat shed. The structures feature earthen floors and display replicas of historical Viking vessels.
The site opened in 2000 to mark 1000 years since Vikings first reached North America, with the establishment based on archaeological findings from the nearby L'Anse aux Meadows site. This location confirms that Vikings inhabited the area around the year 1000.
Visitors can try traditional crafts like blacksmithing and sailing techniques alongside costumed guides who demonstrate historical navigation methods. These hands-on activities offer a direct sense of how Vikings lived and worked.
The site is accessible for walking through on your own or joining guided tours with the staff members stationed throughout the grounds. Appropriate clothing for changing weather is recommended, as the area can be cool and windy.
The site displays a replica of an authentic Viking knarr, a sturdy merchant vessel that actually sailed from Greenland to this location in 1998. The voyage with a crew of nine demonstrates that such historical ships remained seaworthy under modern conditions.
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