Köpingsvik
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Köpingsvik is a village on the Swedish island province of Öland. It is located about 4 km east of the town Borgholm and has approximately 680 inhabitants. It is known as tourist center offering large and modern camping sites. Nearby are the historic sites of Borgholm Castle and Halltorps Manor.
Köpingsvik was probably the most important Viking Age port in Sweden, covering an area of approximately 25 hectars, almost 4 times larger than the similar site in the island of Björkö. Köpingsvik was in operation from the 7th to the 13th century. It was also an important center of early Christianity in Sweden. Remains of an unfinished, massive 12th century church 42 meters long have been excavated as well as the largest collection of the so-called eskilstunakistor, 75 pieces. There have been no serious excavations on the site since 1970s.
Köpingsvik faded away around 1200, and Kalmar took over as the most important harbour town in southeastern Sweden.
Köpingsvik is claimed by some amateur historians as a possible alternative to Björkö for the location of the old viking village Birca in SvíÞjóð (the ancient name for Sweden). Birca is mentioned in Vita Ansgari and the work of Adam of Bremen. The theory has not been widely accepted.
[edit] External links
-
- Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
- Aerial image from TerraServer
- Satellite image from WikiMapia
| Trade emporia of the Viking Age |
 |
|---|---|
| Dorestad • Kaupang • Lindholm • Hedeby • Ribe • Birka • Sigtuna • Köpingsvik Reric • Arkona • Menzlin • Ralswiek • Wolin • Truso • Kaup • Grobin Vanaja • Aldeigja • Alaborg • Hólmgard • Gnezdovo • Sarskoe • Timerevo |
