Travelling to Denmark in 2026? Don’t miss the opportunity to see the magnificent golden treasure from Vindelev, dated to around AD 450–49

In the exhibition “Gold Treasures from Vindelev”, you can get up close to the 23 gold objects hidden and forgotten in Vindelev, near Jelling, around AD 520. While some of the pieces are unique and immensely valuable, the treasure as a whole is invaluable. Close study of each object has provided precious evidence of the etnogenesis of the Danir and the cultural formation of the first Danish kingdom. Borrowing heavily from the Frankish successor kingdoms, this was not merely a marginal polity located in the northern periphery of post-Roman Europe, but part of the new political scene.

The treasure consists of 23 gold objects, which together weigh nearly 800 g. This makes it one of the largest treasures ever discovered in Denmark.

Until August 2026, the treasure is exhibited at the Museum in Jelling, located 8 km west of Vindelev. It includes four Roman medallions from around AD 335–370, eleven bracteates dated to AD 450–490, a pendant embellished with almandine garnets, and a gold mouthpiece from a sword sheath from around AD 520.

One of the bracteates is the largest ever found, while another bears the first-known inscription mentioning Odin.

The exhibition is well worth a detour, and the UNESCO World Heritage Jelling Monument itself offers a fascinating starting point for a visit to what is commonly considered “the birthplace of Denmark.”

Read the full story here about the very early history of the “Danir” and the formation of the first Kingdom of Denmark.

VISIT:

The Golden Treasure from Vindelev
The Jelling Monument
Jelling, Gormsgade 23, 7300 Jelling
Denmark