L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site of Canada

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On behalf of Parks Canada, welcome to L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site. Here is the only known Viking site in North America and the earliest evidence of Europeans in the western hemisphere.

A real-life saga

Cast your gaze over the water and imagine a summer day, around 1000 years ago, when a Norse expedition from Greenland landed on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula. Following the coast around the North Atlantic, they had arrived at a strategic location, within sight of Labrador, near the entrance to the Strait of Belle Isle. Under Leif Eiriksson’s leadership, the group of 60–90 people set up a sturdy encampment of turf-walled buildings that served as an over-wintering base for exploring to the south via the Gulf of St. Lawrence. For the next decade or two, successive expeditions travelled to this region they called Vinland, mainly in search of hardwood lumber. They reached at least as far south as the east coast of New Brunswick—a land where wild grapes grow.

The voyages across the North Atlantic also brought them into contact with North American Aboriginal peoples, ancestors of the Innu, Beothuk, and Mi'kmaq. From these encounters, the Vikings would learn not only that the new lands were inhabited but also that they, the Vikings, were vastly outnumbered throughout the region by the inhabitants.

At the time, the Greenland colony had a population of 500 people or fewer. Even with some Icelandic crew, the cost of operating the Vinland enterprise was just not sustainable for the returns. In a short time, the base at L’Anse aux Meadows was abandoned and the buildings burnt. The Vikings may have continued their journeys to North America for centuries, perhaps involving trade with peoples of the Arctic, until the Greenland colony was itself abandoned in the 15^th century.

The tales of voyages west of Greenland lived on in oral tradition, passing from generation to generation, until the Vinland sagas were written down in the late 1200s. The legend inspired a quest to discover this Viking base in North America with speculations about the location ranging from Labrador to North Carolina. Finally, in 1960, it was Norwegian explorer and writer Helge Ingstad who came upon the site at L’Anse aux Meadows. Local fisherman George Decker led him to what locals called the “old Indian camp”: the overgrown ruins of 11^th century Norse buildings which, combined with a few small items left behind by the Vikings, have proven the historic nature of the only recognized authentic Viking site to date in North America.

L’Anse aux Meadows was designated a National Historic Site in 1975 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. As one of the world’s major archaeological properties, the site is internationally significant for what it tells us of the worldwide movements of people.

What’s in a name?

The earliest recorded name for L’Anse aux Meadows appears on an 1862 French chart as Anse à la Médée or “Medee’s Cove.” The name is probably from “Medea,” the heroine of Greek tragedy, after whom many 17^th and 18^th century ships were named. Settlements and shore stations were often named after ships. After the English settled in the area the name was anglicized to its present form. The bay in front of the village is still called Medee Bay.

Making the most of your visit

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site comprises 80 square kilometres of forest, bog, coast, bay, and islands. Plan to spend one to three hours exploring the site. Our staff are available to answer your questions and to help you.

Starting your visit. We recommend you begin at the Visitor Centre.

• Trace the Norse journey across the North Atlantic with our maps.
• Immerse yourself in Old Norse literature as you listen to the translated Vinland sagas.
• Picture what the site looked like 1000 years ago by viewing a scale model meticulously created based on the archaeologists’ research.
• See the authentic artefacts that proved the site’s origin.
• Dig deeper into the story using our “ask the archaeologist” console.
• Explore other World Heritage Sites through an interactive touch screen.

Follow the boardwalk trail to the ruins and reconstructed sod huts.

• Walk beneath the arch of the Meeting of Two Worlds sculpture, and listen to the vision of its artists.
• Rest awhile at the Aboriginal campsites and gaze out over the sea as countless people have before.

Stand on the actual site.

• The remains of three halls and five smaller buildings where the Vikings lived and worked have been carefully preserved as they were when discovered by the Ingstads.
• Guided tours of the site depart from the back door of the Visitor Centre regularly throughout the day. Or take a self-guided tour with this brochure.

Meet Viking re-enactors at the reconstructed sod huts.

• Visit with merchant-adventurer Bjorn, his wife Thora, the blacksmith Ragnar or other members of the crew and hear tales of trade, Norse society and how to turn bog iron into nail.
• Handle reproduction artifacts and experience for yourself life in the Viking camp!
• Dress up as a Viking and take a picture for posterity.

Explore a landscape that must have reminded the Norse of their homeland.

• Hike the Birchy Nuddick Trail along the shoreline and inland over bogs and barrens. Look for icebergs, sea birds, and wild flowers in a landscape little changed since Viking time.
• Enjoy a picnic beside the ocean at Muddy Cove.

Services

Washrooms and a pay phone are located in the Visitor Centre. There is also an accessible washroom at the bus pick-up area.

Services for visitors with disabilities

The Visitor Centre, the sod huts, and the ruins are all wheelchair–accessible.

If you have a disability, you can drive your vehicle to the designated parking area and follow the accessible boardwalk to reach the ruins and the sod huts.

Special programs

• Sagas and Shadows evening program—check with staff for days and times
• From Bog to Fog guided walk—check with staff for days and times

Reminders

• Do not smoke in the buildings.
• Pets on leashes are permitted on the grounds; pets are not allowed in buildings.

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