Birka and Hovgården World Heritage Site

Official name

Birka and Hovgården | UNESCO

Country

Sweden | Map

Continent

Europe

Location

Stockholm County (Region of Uppland)
59.3351° Lat, 17.5426° Lon | Map

Code

555

Time Zone

Europe/Stockholm (CET, +0100)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 1993. The Birka archaeological site is located on Björkö Island in Lake Mälar and was occupied in the 9th and 10th centuries. Hovgården is situated on the neighbouring island of Adelsö. Together, they make up an archaeological complex which illustrates the elaborate trading networks of Viking-Age Europe and their influence on the subsequent history of Scandinavia. Birka was also important as the site of the first Christian congregation in Sweden, founded in 831 by St Ansgar.