Viking town Haithabu

The former Viking settlement of Haithabu lies on the German-Danish border. It was known as an important trading place. The town was founded in 770 AD and soon became very famous. In the 9th century a second settlement was built

Reconstructed Viking settlement Haithabu

© Kai-Erik Ballak / CC-BY-SA-3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)“

further north on the Haithabu stream. Towards the end of the 9th century parts of the settlement to the north and south were abandoned, while the Haithabu brook was further used. Its use offered a strong shortcut across the Jutland peninsula towards the North Sea. From the 9th to the 10th century almost one thousand inhabitants inhabited the trading centre. For centuries Haithabu was the decisive south-north connection from Hamburg to Viborg in Jutland.
Goods from Norway, Sweden, Ireland, the Baltic States, Constantinople, Baghdad and the Frankish Empire were traded in Haithabu. Between the 8th and 11th centuries, the settlement was at the centre of the trade networks between northern and western Europe and formed a hub between Scandinavia and Europe.

In short, Haithabu had been a trading town for Vikings. It was one of the most important trading cities in its time. In May 2018 it was officially declared a World Heritage Site. 

Gizem