Asva – Bronze Age and Experiences at Asva Viking Village

The fortified settlement of Asva is also a protected heritage site. During the Bronze Age, the ridge on which the settlement of Asva stood was an island or a peninsula in a shallow sea bay. This historic landscape explains the special character of the site: the settlement does not stand in isolation, but is connected to a coastal landscape that has long since changed. If you would like to compare Asva with other travel destinations, you can also explore Saareküla, Laimjala and Ridala.

The ancient fortified settlement of Asva is one of the most important Bronze Age research sites in Northern Europe. The permanent exhibition at Asva in Odrakoda, which opened in summer 2023, offers an accessible introduction to the history. Together with a short documentary film, it tells the story of Asva from an archaeologist’s perspective. For visitors who would first like to gain an overview, this format combines a scholarly perspective with an illustrative presentation of the site.

Asva Viking Village is also located on the edge of the ancient settlement of Asva. This creates an explicitly documented spatial connection between the historic settlement and the visitor experience, without suggesting that the two represent the same thing. The fortress of Asva Viking Village includes a longhouse the size of a chieftain’s hall called Odrakoda. The Asva exhibition is also located in Odrakoda, meaning that this name plays a role both in the historical interpretation offering and in the reconstructed village.

The courtyard of Asva Viking Village offers archery, axe throwing, and skill games. These activities have different focuses: while archery and axe throwing clearly draw on named historical themes, the skill games are geared towards practical experimentation. The activities make the Village a place where you can discover the historical narrative not only through the exhibition and buildings, but also through activities.

A culinary aspect is also part of a stay at the Village. The kitchen menu includes a Viking stew, smoked meat prepared in the courtyard, and local drinks. The regional experience is therefore not limited to the settlement’s history, but also includes food and beverages explicitly associated with Asva Viking Village.

In addition to the fortress and historical content, Asva Viking Village also features an adventure park and an animal and bird park. The adventure park offers more than 50 challenge activities across four levels. Around one hundred animals and birds live in the animal and bird park. Visitors can observe and pet the animals in their enclosures. This gives families a choice between activity-oriented pursuits, animal observation, and cultural interpretation, without requiring all travelers to choose the same part of the program.

The combination is also relevant for travel groups with different interests: those interested in archaeology can focus on the settlement, exhibition, and documentary film. Other members of the group can enjoy activities such as skill games in the Village or observe animals in the animal and bird park.

When are the earliest settlement traces at Asva dated to?

The earliest settlement traces of the fortified settlement of Asva date back to the 3rd millennium BC.

When was the settlement’s ring wall built?

A ring wall was built at the fortified settlement of Asva in the 7th to 9th centuries AD.

What was found during the Asva G excavation?

The Asva G excavation uncovered 276 fragments of clay molds. They originated from the casting of bronze bracelets.

How high is the adventure park?

The adventure park at Asva Viking Village is nearly 12 meters high.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Laimjala Municipality.