FRONTPAGE • INFORMATION • EXHIBITIONS • CALENDAR • THE 1000 YEAR KINGDOM

A 1000 years of history • Special exhibitions • Jelling as an UNESCO-monument

1000 years of history Two giant mounds, a couple of large rune stones, and midway between them a whitewashed church - what links these impressive monuments from the past? The permanent exhibition in Royal Jelling tells the more than 1000 year-old story of the monument, from its inception to the present day. The two runic stones are the focal point of the ex­hi­bi­tion & they are the main source for this story from the 10th. century, with their witness to the consolidation of the realm, the introduction of Chri­sti­a­ni­ty and the first steps towards a monarchy. The exhibition Royal Vikings is among other things about how these mighty monuments were created a thousand years ago, about their central position in the history of Denmark, about the victory of Christianity over the Norse gods, and not least about the first kings in the world's oldest monarchy.				Mysteries The exhibition touches on a number of the mysteries associated with Jelling. Is it King Gorm the Old that the archaeologists have found in the floor beneath Jelling Church? Was he really buried first in the northern mound in accordance with heathen custom? And why does the largest runestone show both the Midgard Serpent and Christ on the Cross? Who lies buried in the world's largest ship setting? The two stones are not the only story, however. The exhibition shows how the finds at Jelling have expanded our awareness of the Viking heritage in Denmark,how the story of Thyra expanded into a saga of almost mythical proportions. Jelling con­tains much of what can be regarded as a national identity.