Aarhus, a city in Denmark, is set to embark on a significant cultural initiative with plans to establish a new Viking museum in the heart of the city. Moesgaard Museum (Moesgaard Museum) and Aarhus Municipality (Aarhus Kommune) are collaborating to explore the feasibility of locating the museum at Bispetorvet, a historical site that dates back to the Viking Age.

Mads Kähler Holst, the director of Moesgaard Museum, emphasizes that the museum’s mission is to raise awareness of the city’s Viking heritage. “Aarhus has maintained its original location since the 8th century, so one could actually say you are following in the footsteps of the Vikings when walking around the city center,” he notes.

An analysis suggests that a new Viking museum could attract between 320,000 and 390,000 visitors annually. The plan is to build the museum on the site where Clemens Karré once stood. This building was demolished in 1916, and the area is situated between Skt. Clemens Torv (St. Clemens Square) and Bispetorvet.

According to Moesgaard Museum, the new museum is also intended to help revitalize the surrounding areas of St. Clemens Square, Bispetorvet, and Store Torv (Big Square). Anne Mette Boye, the city architect of Aarhus, points out that the public spaces today feel “empty, undefined, and windy.” She believes that the Viking museum will bring vibrancy and make these areas more attractive for the city’s residents.

The final decision now rests with the Aarhus City Council (Aarhus Byråd), which must approve the project’s next steps. However, a preliminary project must first be initiated, which will include archaeological investigations, concept development, and an architectural competition regarding the design of the museum and the public spaces. If everything goes according to plan, archaeological excavations and the construction of the museum could begin in 2028, with the museum expected to open its doors in 2032.