Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
On your trip, you'll see reminders everywhere of Scandinavia's long history.
Eerie graves, carved rune stones, and horned helmets bring to mind
Lord of
the Rings
-style warriors of old who worshipped Thor and Odin. You'll see the
ships and weapons of their descendants—the Vikings—who terrorized Europe
with their fierce, pagan culture. Evocative wooden-stave churches show how
Christianity slowly seeped into the region.
You'll visit the harbors of these seafaring peoples and tour the stark castles
of nobles who fought for control of Baltic trade. As modern nations emerged,
absolute monarchs built luxurious palaces intended to rival Versailles. Today's
streets and main squares are studded with statues and monuments honoring
great kings and their battles, great patriots who lobbied for national inde-
pendence, and great writers and musicians who enriched Scandinavian culture.
Scandinavian museums are filled with paintings that capture the beauty of the
landscape and celebrate its people. You'll hear bittersweet stories of the mil-
lions of 19th-century Scandinavians who left their homes for better lives in
