The Myklebust Ship

Tucked away on the scenic fjord shores of Nordfjordeid in Western Norway lies one of the country’s most extraordinary Viking experiences – the Sagastad Viking Centre, home to a replica of the mighty Myklebust Ship. This experience centre offers a deep dive into Viking history, where myth meets meticulous archaeology, and where you can stand face to face with the replica of one of the largest Viking ships ever unearthed in the world.

A ship fit for a king

The Myklebust Ship is no ordinary vessel. At over 30 meters long, it is believed to have belonged to a powerful Viking king – possibly King Audbjørn of Fjordane, who, according to the Norse sagas, fell in battle around 870 AD.

Unlike the famous Oseberg and Gokstad ships in Eastern Norway, which were buried intact, the Myklebust Ship was burned in a spectacular funeral pyre, along with the king’s remains, his treasures, weapons, and possibly even sacrificial offerings.

The burial mound

The remains of the ship were excavated in 1874 by archaeologist Anders Lorange from Bergen, from the burial mound at Rundehågjen, right in the center of Nordfjordeid – easily visible and accessible behind the main shopping street. It was named the Myklebust Ship after the farm where it was found.

“We can estimate the ship’s length based on the grave findings. Around 7,000 rivets and 44 shield bosses were found, indicating the ship likely had at least 22 shields on each side,” explains Aurora Leivdal at Sagastad.

This number is considered a minimum, as only half of the grave was excavated.

In 2024, new analyses were conducted using excavation and ground-penetrating radar, revealing even more objects, including a bronze ring and several possible shield bosses, further confirming that this is likely Norway’s largest Viking ship.

The offering tales

The burial mounds are symbols of the wealth and power of the time, of faith and society. They show us what people in the Viking Age believed was important regarding life after death.

“In the Ynglinga Saga from Snorre Sturlasson’s tales of the Norse Kings, it’s described how Odin mandated cremation as the path to Valhalla: he made a law that all the dead shall be burned, and what they owned carried on the fire with them. He said that every man should come to Valhalla with such wealth as he had brought with him on the fire," explains Leivdal.

In Viking times, there were different burial customs, but ship graves with mounds were reserved for the richest and most powerful.

This is also evidenced by the grave goods. The dead king had been given a ship worthy of a final voyage to Valhalla – weapons, jewellery, game pieces, remains of livestock, and many other items.

But perhaps the most beautiful of all was a Celtic bronze vessel containing the burnt bone remains – a testament to the Vikings’ contact with distant cultures.

Step aboard history

At Sagastad, you don’t just look – you explore. The exhibition hall is a beautiful, almost sacred space, where the undulating, mirror-like ceiling resembles sea ripples and reflects the changing light throughout the day.

Here, you are invited to board the full-scale Myklebust Ship and experience Viking craftsmanship and engineering up close. The museum combines hands-on exhibits with digital storytelling, interactive displays, and immersive experiences that bring Viking history to life for all ages.

As a royal ship, the Myklebust vessel was a symbol of power and was likely richly decorated with carvings. The head and tail of the reconstructed ship were carved by local master woodcarver Rolf Taraldset from Hornindal.

“The ship is a replica – we don’t know exactly what it looked like. The dragon’s head, for example, was made by a local woodcarver and the pattern was inspired by other Viking finds,” says Leivdal.

In the exhibition, visitors can view artefacts from the original excavation, learn about Norse burial rituals, and explore the fascinating blend of legend and fact surrounding King Audbjørn and his final voyage.

The Viking force

But building the replica wasn’t done overnight. It was local enthusiasts who initiated the reconstruction of Sagastad. After decades of work, their dream finally came true.

“We were a small group of local history buffs who wanted to do something with the incredible Viking heritage of Nordfjordeid. We’ve been working on this since 1992. To see this beautiful centre finally completed in 2019 is a dream come true,” says Kragseth, often called the "Viking chieftain" by the locals.

You can often find him down at the quay, dressed in full Viking gear, volunteering to tell visitors the story of the ship and Sagastad.

Local Viking fever

It now looks like the entire village has caught Viking fever, half the town seemingly actively engaged in Viking life. It's a great example of how the dugnad, the unique Norwegian spirit of volunteerism, is still very much alive today!

More than 200 locals have volunteered in different groups – including the rowing team, launching crew, warrior reenactment group, events team, and the sewing guild Åsynjene (named after the female Norse gods, the Æsir/Æsene).

“So far, we’ve sewn more than 140 Viking outfits. We use a lot of materials that were common in the Viking Age – linen, wool, leather, and some cotton, which has been found in certain graves. But we also let our imaginations run a little wild. Not everything we do is 100 per cent historically accurate – but there’s a lot we still don’t know about the era,” say Gitte Lefdal and Ruth Sunde, two of the core 10–12 members of the group who have fallen in love with Viking fashion.

“I grew up here, with Viking history right beneath our feet. But it now feels alive. Our story has become something the whole village is proud of,” says Håkon Aabrekk, who has a very natural Viking look and is a member of the launching crew.

“When we looked for 100 people to join the rowing team, we were worried we wouldn’t get enough – but the list filled up in just a few days,” he tells us.

And at the local Folk High School, many students spend an entire year on a Viking-themed course, learning how people lived in the Viking Age.

The boat builders from Bjørkedalen

The reconstruction of the Myklebust Ship was performed by skilled and experienced boatbuilders from neighbouring Bjørkedalen in collaboration with the University of Bergen, using traditional Viking shipbuilding techniques based on how the ship is believed to have originally looked.

“We were six men who worked for more than three years to complete the ship,” say brothers Dag Inge and Jakob Bjørkedal from Bjørkedal Båtbyggeri, experts in clinker-built boats – a tradition now listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

As the name suggests, this is a long-standing family enterprise with several Viking ship replicas on its résumé.

“I even sailed one of them in a hurricane off the Faroe Islands,” Jakob recalls.

Unique capabilities

Viking ships were, and still remain, incredibly seaworthy and had many impressive qualities.

“For instance, they were flat-bottomed, so they could be sailed up onto beaches at high tide. They would rest on the sand during low tide and sail again when the tide returned. This structure also allowed them to be dragged over land to avoid dangerous stretches, like around Stadt. They could also sail or be rowed into shallow rivers,” the brothers explain.

This allowed Vikings to reach faraway places like the British Isles, Iceland, Vinland (likely Newfoundland, Canada), the Mediterranean, Russia, and Istanbul.

They were more than just raiders – many were traders, settlers, and explorers.

“There was great variety in the size of Viking ships. Some were built for trade and cargo, while others were swift, seaworthy warships made for surprise attacks,” says Dag Inge.

The Myklebust Ship, however, was likely too large for long voyages and may have served more as a symbol of the local king’s power.

And standing inside Sagastad, taking in the ship’s sheer scale, one still feels a sense of awe.

The ship was completed and launched on the fjord in the spring of 2019. It has excellent manoeuvring properties and sits elegantly in the water.

A journey beyond the museum

The experience doesn’t just end with the ship. Sagastad is located in the charming town of Nordfjordeid, surrounded by fjords and mountains and full of cultural heritage. After your visit, stroll along the waterfront, hike nearby trails, or explore local cafés and shops that offer a taste of Norwegian hospitality with a Viking twist.

And don’t forget to check out what’s on at the local Opera House – also built and run largely thanks to the locals' dugnad spirit.

Did you know Sagastad has Norway’s largest Viking-themed social media accounts?
Follow @sagastad_official on Instagram for more Viking inspiration!

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