Centre of Slavs and Vikings in Wolin

Every year in early August hundreds of re-enactors from across Europe arrive on a small island in the Dziwna river to spend a few days living like the people of early medieval Wolin. For the rest of the season the Centre of Slavs and Vikings Wolin–Jomsborg–Vineta is an archaeological open-air museum with dozens of huts, a rampart with a palisade and a harbour quay, all reconstructed from excavation findings. The name refers to Jomsborg, the legendary Viking stronghold of the sagas, and to Vineta, the sunken city of Baltic legend, both long associated with Wolin.

History: from excavations to festival

The idea took shape after archaeological excavations in 1992, when the first workshops of historical crafts were set up. A year later the first Viking festival took place, and in 2001 the association that runs the museum was founded. The settlement was built in stages and officially opened on 7 April 2008, when 13 buildings were on show. The houses were rebuilt at full scale based on the plans of 9th–10th-century log, post and split-plank huts, and the quay and harbour were reconstructed to designs by the Szczecin archaeologist Władysław Filipowiak. The museum has burned twice: one hut was lost in 2011 and two more in 2014.

What to see

• Dwelling huts and workshops of a blacksmith, potter, bronze caster, weaver and other craftspeople.
• The defensive rampart with palisade and gates, enclosing the settlement on the landward side.
• The harbour quay with a replica of an early medieval boat.
• A runestone dedicated to Świętosława, one of the reconstructions within the settlement.
• A view of Wolin town with St Nicholas's collegiate church across the river.

Interesting facts

The settlement now has 27 huts and 4 gates, and the festival draws about 1,500 participants from 24 countries. In season, staff in historical costume work in the huts and demonstrate old techniques, from felting and weaving to metalworking and baking bread. The museum has also served as a film set for Polish Television and the History Channel. In 2026 the Festival of Slavs and Vikings took place from 30 July to 2 August under the theme "Beliefs of the Slavs".

Tripto tip

The museum is on an island about 700 m from the centre of Wolin, at Recław 37: you cross the bridge to Recław and then a small bridge onto the island. According to the operator's website (as of October 2026) it is open in April–June and September–October from 10:00 to 16:00, and in July and August from 10:00 to 18:00; the last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closing. A standard ticket costs PLN 30, reduced PLN 25, during the festival and the Gathering of Slavs and Vikings PLN 35/25, and a guide for a tour of about an hour costs PLN 80. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the settlement. The site has steep ramparts, wooden steps and low hut doorways, and paths can be slippery after rain. Photos taken in the museum may be used for private purposes only.