A journey back in time to Erik the Red's Greenland

The legendary Viking Erik the Red, known for naming Greenland, also established one of history's most remote settlements. During our expeditions from Ilulissat to Narsarsuaq and Narsarsuaq to Tasilaq, we sail through Eriksfjorden, named after this iconic explorer. We also plan to land in Qassiarsuk to visit his estate, Brattahlid, offering a unique insight into life during the Viking era in Greenland.

The Viking Erik the Red, born in Norway around 950, was forced to leave his homeland at a young age under dramatic circumstances. He and his family settled in Iceland, but around 982, Erik was declared an outlaw after being accused of murder and was thus forced to leave the island. With a ship or a small fleet, accompanied by a few loyal followers, he embarked on a perilous journey across the iceberg-filled sea between Iceland and Greenland.

Erik discovered Greenland, where he was impressed by the fertile green valleys and the inviting fjord landscape. He named the island "The Green Land" and returned to Iceland to generate interest in this new world. In 985, he set sail again, this time with a fleet of 25 ships carrying about 500 men and women, as well as livestock and everything needed to establish a new society.

Only 14 of the ships reached Greenland, where Erik established a chieftain's seat at Brattahlid—now Qassiarsuk—in southern Greenland. Others continued north to the fjord near Nuuk, leading to the foundation of the Eastern and Western settlements. Around the year 1000, Erik's son, Leif Eriksson, returned to Greenland after an extended period in Norway. Leif introduced Christianity to Greenland, and soon after, Tjodhilde's church, the first Christian church on the North American continent, was built in Brattahlid. Today, visitors can see a reconstruction of this historic church in Qassiarsuk.

After nearly 500 years, all traces of the Vikings disappeared from Greenland. The reasons for this remain a mystery to this day, and theories about their sudden disappearance vary, including everything from pirates to the Black Death. However, the most widespread theory among historians is that the Vikings failed to adapt to the climate during a colder period known as the Little Ice Age.

Hvalsey Church, located south of Qassiarsuk, is known for having one of the last written records of Norse presence in Greenland. The church, which is the best-preserved ruin in Greenland, was built in the 14th century. With its six-meter-high stone walls, it still towers into the sky amidst this remote landscape. Once, there was a bustling settlement here, much more than just the grazing sheep visible today.

Source: Visit Greenland