Midgard Walks and Talks 2024

Finally, Midgardsblot is back, and people from all over the world flock to Borre and its unique historical environment! Midgard viking centre's related program, Midgard Walks and Talks, runs from Monday 12th of August to Saturday 17th of August. 

The seminar Midgard Talks takes place every day with lectures and panels relating to Viking history, culture and music. The festival collaborates with the Midgard Viking Centre.

We also offer our popular Green Viking courses designed to teach practical skills known from the Viking Age, but also how to use and reuse materials you may have in your home or garden. 

And don't miss out on a chance to learn about the brilliant painter Edvard munch and his special attachment to the the close, idyllic town of Åsgårdstrand while wondering through the nature reserve and listening to an expert guide tell stories about the tortured painter's life.

We set up extra activities on the playground for children and extra guided tours during the festival.

For more detailed information about the seminar and other activities see below of visit our website: https://vestfoldmuseene.no/midgard-vikingsenter/midgardsblot

MIDGARD TALKS

Price:

• Per day: 120 NOK - can be purchased in the reception at Midgard Viking Center. 
• For all four days: 350 NOK

Wednesday – Saturday 10.00 – 15.00 at Midgard Viking Centre

Every talk is 30 minutes and allows for a 10 minute dialogue with the audience

The Program:

Wednesday August 14th

10.00 Beyond Viking metal: Heavy music and the Ancient North. Adam Kelly, Oxford university

11.00 The Era of Early Modern Witch-hunts in Europe. Rune Blix Hagen, University of Tromsø

12.00 Snorri Sturluson and his relationship to Vestfold and Norway. Bjørn Bandlien, University of Southeast Norway

13.00 Travelling to death on horseback. Terje Østigård, Linnaeus University

14.00 Panel: The Viking age in popular culture: “fake” history?

Peter Bøttinger (moderator, Vestfoldmuseene) Stefan Nyzell, Adam Kelly, Fredrik Bjønnes, Rune Rasmussen

Thursday August 15th

10.00 The Sami and Saami religion in the Viking Age. Marte Spangen, Museum of Cultural History, Oslo

11.00 Sorcery and Shamanism in the witch trials of Arctic Norway, 1593 to 1692. Rune Blix Hagen, University of Tromsø

12.00 Grendel's Hoard: On History, Truth, and Fiction in Adapting Beowulf as an Art Project. Stefan Nyzell, Malmö University

13.00 The sagas are in earth as the Edda is in heaven: How the vikings orientated themselves in the world. Gísli Sigurdsson, Árni Magnússon Institute, Iceland

14.00: Panel: Spirituality and magical practises - past and present. Vicky Mikalsen (moderator), Rune Blix Hagen, Jone Salomonsen, Marte Spangen

Friday August 16th

10.00 The mystical far north: Magical encounters on the Artic edge of the Viking world. Lionel Perabo, Sorbonne Université

11.00 Sex and the supernatural in Old Norse literature. Grace O’Duffy, Oxford University

12.00 Viking plants as sources to cultural practice. Karoline Kjesrud, Museum of Cultural history, Oslo

13:00 Bloodletting, bodies in trees, bears and bullshit - can we believe Adam of Bremen's account of the pagan sacrifices at Uppsala in the eleventh century? Tim Bolton, Cambridge University

14.00 Panel: A supernatural past? Are the sources lying to us? Karoline Kjesrud (moderator), Lionel Perabo, Grace O’Duffy, Tim Bolton, Josh Rood

Saturday August 17th

10.00 Buried in sledges – new light on Viking age burials. Ragnar Orten Lie, Vestfold County Municipality

11.00 A few of my favourite things. A tour through the new exhibitions at the Museum of the Viking Age. Ellen Marie Næss, Museum of Cultural history, Oslo

12.00 The Vikings and the Irish. Caitlin Ellis, University of Oslo

13.00 Tracing Threads - Digital illustration as a new method for re-interpreting the Oseberg tapestry fragments. Margrethe Havgar, Museum of Cultural History, Oslo

14.00 Panel: What’s the hottest Viking news? Easy-going and informative on the latest Viking news.

Margrethe Havgar (moderator), Benjamin Raffield, Ragnar Orten Lie, Ellen Marie Næss, Caitlin Ellis

GREEN VIKINGS

Price:

• 5-hour course: 550 NOK
• 3-hour course: 320 NOK

Our “Green Viking” courses are designed to teach practical skills known from the Viking Age, but also how to use and reuse materials you may have in your home or garden. Experience the joy of DIY the Viking way!

5-hour courses:

These courses offer two different designs

Monday August 12th at 11.00 – 16.00

Design 1: Learn how to make your own coiled basket. We provide the materials, and you get enough to finish your creation if you run out of time. Capacity: 11-16 people.

Tuesday august 13th at 11.00 – 16.00

Design 2: Learn how to make your own coiled basket. We provide the materials, and you get enough to finish your creation if you run out of time. Capacity: 11-16 people.

3-hour courses:

Wednesday August 14th at 11.00 – 14.00

Learn the looping technique and make your own small bag for toiletries or water bottles. We provide string of hemp or flax, that you use for your creation, and you get enough to finish it at home if you are not done. Capacity: 8 people.

Thursday August 15th at 11.00 – 14.00

Learn the looping technique and make your own small bag for toiletries or water bottles. We provide string of hemp or flax, that you use for your creation, and you get enough to finish it at home if you are not done. Capacity: 8 people.

GUIDED TOURS – Midgard Viking Centre

Price:

• Included in museum ticket, festival wristband and Midgard Talks ticket

Wednesday – Saturday, starting from the main entrance of Midgard Viking Centre:

12 pm - The Gravemounds

1 pm - The Museum Exhibition

2 pm - The Gravemounds

VIKING PLAYGROUND – Midgard Viking Centre

Price:

• Included in museum ticket and Midgard Talks ticket

Monday-Friday at 11.00-16.00

Archeary

Saturday August 17th at 11.00-16.00

Archeary, viking games and Viking bracelet braiding

VR- EXPERIENCE

1238 The Battle of Iceland - is an interactive and immersive historical experience that brings you into the middle of Viking battles and historical events. Take part in Iceland’s history through virtual reality. Step back in time and fight alongside the Vikings.

See our website for more info.

EDVARD MUNCH: TOWARDS THE FOREST

Friday August 16th at 12 pm

Meeting point at Borre camping

Learn about the life of the renowned painter Edvard Munch, known for his dramatic “Scream” painting. Munch spent a lot of time in the picturesque town Åsgårdstrand where he painted some of his most famous paintings. We walk through the Fjugstad forest to Åsgårdstrand.

Ticket: 300 Nkr

GUIDED TOUR OF EDVARD MUNCH'S HOUSE

Where:

Edvard Munchs gate 25, 3179 Åsgårdstrand

Munchs house - opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11.00 – 17.00

Guided tours at the house: Tuesday – Sunday 12:30, 15.00 and 16.00

A walk in Munch’s footprints, starting from Munch’s house. Tuesday – Sunday 11.15 and 13.30

Digital experience and store: 11.30 – 17.30

GUIDED TOUR AT THE SLOTTSFJELLS MUSEUM

Where:

Farmannsveien 30, Tønsberg

Opening hours:

Monday – Wednesday: 11.00 – 16.00

Thursday 11.00 – 19.00

Friday - Sunday 11.00 – 16.00

Guided tours – every day

11.30 World War II bunker

12.00 The Castle ruins

13.30 The Exhibitions

14.30 World War II bunker

15.00 The Castle ruins

For program and more information, see: https://vestfoldmuseene.no/midgard-vikingsenter/midgardsblot