Horten

No, not a character from Dr Seuss (that's Horton), just a town in Norway with an odd name.  We spent our last two days in Norway in Horten, just southwest of Oslo.  Horten is famous as the location of a large Viking burial site and we spent a fair amount of time at the visitors centre which had a whole range of things to see and do.

First stop was the arena of Viking games and sports where we competed against each other and ourselves in ancient Viking tests of strength and skill.

First the child friendly sport of axe throwing

Archery was an important skill in warfare and probably for competition in peacetime

Then the most bloodthirsty of all Viking sports... pillow fighting.  

Eric had some prior Kubb experience 

Next stop was the recreated Viking Hall where feasts would have been held in Viking times.  Inside alongside the display of carts, furs and other Viking goods we could take a turn at milling wheat to make flour which then became flatbread.

Outside the hall the local historical society was setting up for a Viking fair.  There were stalls selling various Viking goods which we could browse.

Finally a walk past the wheat fields brought us to the site of the mounds themselves.  They were quite large with some covered with stones and others bare with grass and trees growing on them.  

All told it was an interesting experience.  The set up was excellent as it provided entertainment for the kids in a way that provided a good educational experience for adults and children alike.