Overview:

: is a site of 10th century burial mounds, one of the largest Viking Age burial sites in Denmark. The site includes two large burial mounds and two runic stones (also known as runestones), one of which is the Jelling Stone. The two runic stones are inscribed with inscriptions related to Viking Age kings. The church at Jelling is also a medieval church which was built around 1000 A.D. and is one of the oldest churches in Denmark. There is also an older wooden church which was built about 800 A.D. and has since been restored. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Denmark
Prominent Features:

The Jelling Mounds of Denmark are two burial mounds located on the Jutland peninsula in southeast Denmark. They are the site of the royal burial mounds of King Gorm the Old and King Harald Bluetooth, two of the most famous of Denmark's Viking rulers. Located near the small town of Jelling, the mounds are believed to have been built in the 9th century CE. The larger mound is known as King Gorm's Mound, or Kongehøjen, and the smaller as King Harald's Mound, or Kongestenen. The mounds are also accompanied by two large runic stones inscribed with the oldest known versions of the Danish names meaning "Gorm the Old" and "Harald who made the Danes Christian". The runic stones are among the oldest existing examples of written Danish and are now displayed in the Jelling church, which was built between 1892 and 1894. This national monument of Denmark portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Jelling mounds, runic stones, and church in Jelling, Denmark, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are among the most important monuments from the Viking Age and represent the origins of Danish kingship. The three structures were constructed by Harald Bluetooth in the late 10th century AD. The mounds are one of the most outstanding examples of Viking Age constructions and are believed to contain the remains of the Gorm and Thyra, the first Christian king and queen of Denmark. The two mounds are connected to archaeological finds from the Iron Age and Early Viking Age. The two large stones in the mounds, known as the Jelling stones, are the oldest Runic stones in Denmark. They are inscribed with a description of the conversion of the Danes to Christianity, declaring Harald Bluetooth to be the first Christian king. The runic inscriptions also give an account of Harald's success at unifying Denmark, as well as his father Gorm’s and mother Thyra's accomplishments. The Church of Jelling is believed to have been built by Harald’s son Sweyn Forkbeard as a gift to the Christian faith. It is one of the oldest and best preserved churches in Denmark and has an impressive collection of medieval frescoes showing stories from the Bible. In 2016, the site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list “as an exceptional example of the spread of Christianity to the region and the importance of kingship in distant countries”. The site is now a popular tourist attraction in Denmark and the area has been further developed to include museums, restaurants, a hotel, and archaeological parks. You must visit one of these historical places in Denmark on your Denmark tour

Interesting facts:

-The Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church are located in the small village of Jelling in South Denmark. -The Jelling Mounds were built by Viking-era King Harald Bluetooth around 965, and are considered Denmark’s earliest national monuments. -The runic stones, dated to the same time period, are believed to commemorate King Harald Bluetooth’s conversion of the Danish people to Christianity. -The church at Jelling dates back to around 1050 and is the oldest remaining church in Denmark. It is believed to have been built by King Harald Bluetooth's son, King Sweyn Forkbeard. -The place is considered to have historical national importance and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. -The village of Jelling, and nearby areas, have provided numerous artifacts of Viking art, craftsmanship and culture, including an immense gold necklace from the Viking Age. -It is believed that Jelling was once the royal seat of Denmark. Visit one of the famous monuments of Denmark with your friends and family.