Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The
Gokstad,
from
A.D.
950, is a practical working boat, capable of sailing
the high seas. A ship like this brought settlers to the west of France (Nor-
mandy was named for the Norsemen). And in such a vessel, explorers such
as Eric the Red hopscotched from Norway to Iceland to Greenland and on to
what they called Vinland—today's Newfoundland in Canada. Imagine 30 men
hauling on long oars out at sea for weeks and months at a time. In 1892, a
replica of this ship sailed from Norway to America in 44 days to celebrate the
400th anniversary of Columbus
not
discovering America.
The ships tend to steal the show, but don't miss the hall displaying
jewelry
and personal items
excavated along with the ships. The ships and related ar-
tifacts survived so well because they were buried in clay as part of a graves-
ite. Many of the finest items were not actually Viking art, but goodies they
brought home after raiding more advanced (but less tough) people. Still, there
are lots of actual Viking items, such as metal and leather goods, that give in-
sight into their culture. Highlights are the cart and sleighs, ornately carved
with scenes from Viking sagas.
The museum doesn't offer tours, but it's easy to eavesdrop on the many
guides leading big groups through the museum. Everything is well-described
in English. You probably don't need the little museum guidebook—it repeats
exactly what's already posted on the exhibits.
▲Norwegian Holocaust Center (HL-Senteret)
—Located in the stately
former home of Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling, this museum and study
center offers a high-tech look at the racist ideologies that fueled the Holo-
caust. To show the Holocaust in a Norwegian context, the first floor dis-
plays historical documents about the rise of anti-Semitism and personal ef-
fects from Holocaust victims. Downstairs, the names of 760 Norwegian Jews
killed by the Nazis are listed in a bright, white room. The
Innocent Questions
glass-and-neon sculpture outside showsanold-fashioned punchcard,remind-
ing viewers of how the Norwegian puppet government collected seemingly
innocuous information before deporting its Jews. The
Contemporary Reflec-
tions
video is a reminder that racism and genocide continue today.
Cost and Hours:
50 kr, ask for free English audioguide or catalog with
translation of exhibit text, daily mid-June-mid-Aug 10:00-18:00, mid-Aug-
