Tønsberg claims to be the oldest town in Norway, as it is mentioned by the recorder Snorre as existing already in 871.

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Destination-Tonsberg-

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Destination-Tonsberg1-

Tønsberg, the old tower from the castle on top of the mountain can be spotted from far away. 

Tønsberg claims to be the oldest town in Norway, as it is mentioned by the recorder Snorre as existing already in 871. Tønsberg is a coastal town on the western shores of the Oslo fjord, well known for the connection to the viking age.  Tønsberg may be the oldest town, but it is also a very modern town, with industry in the forefront of innovation and invention.                                                      Tønsberg is also close to where the three viking ships have been excavated, Oseberg was found just outside of Tønsberg in 1903, a ceremonial ship built in 820, buried in 834. Gokstadskipet was found outside Sandefjord, not far from Tønsberg – a chieftain’s grave. And Klåstadskipet was found in a field outside Larvik – this was a cargo ship, sunk most probably in a storm. And it is Klåstadskipet which is the model for Saga Farmann.  Tønsberg may be the oldest town, but it is also a very modern town, with industry in the forefront of innovation and invention, like Seadrive, the firm providing Saga Farmann with ‘Viking warp drive’, four electric pods with propellers.  Tønsberg is characteristic with Slottsfjellet where the castle tower rises over the top. The town has approximately 35,000 inhabitants and is the most important trading town in the district. There is industry and Tønsberg claims to be the oldest town in Norway, as it is mentioned by the recorder Snorre as existing already in 871. Tønsberg is a coastal town on the western shores of the Oslo fjord, well known for the connection to the viking age. Tønsberg may be the oldest town, but it is also a very modern town, with industry in the forefront of innovation and invention. agriculture, but we like to think that the town is best known for having a vibrant Viking shipyard, located so that anyone who wants to can come and see how the Vikings built ships.

Tønsberg is also close to where the three viking ships have been excavated, Oseberg was found just outside of Tønsberg in 1903, a ceremonial ship built in 820, buried in 834. Gokstadskipet was found outside Sandefjord, not far from Tønsberg – a chieftain’s grave. And Klåstadskipet was found in a field outside Larvik – this was a cargo ship, sunk most probably in a storm. And it is Klåstadskipet which is the model for Saga Farmann. 

 Tønsberg may be the oldest town, but it is also a very modern town, with industry in the forefront of innovation and invention, like Seadrive, the firm providing Saga Farmann with ‘Viking warp drive’, four electric pods with propellers. 

Tønsbergs skyline is characteristic with Slottsfjellet, the castle tower rises over the top of a volcanic chimney.  The town has approximately 35,000 inhabitants and is the most important trading town in the district. There is industry and some agriculture, but we like to think that the town is best known for having a vibrant Viking shipyard, located so that anyone who wants to can come and see how the Vikings built ships.

destination-1-2-altstadt-lubeck

Destination 1-2 Altstadt Lübeck

The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the first Crew exchange harbour on our epic voyage. The Old City of Lübeck ( 'Altstadt Lübeck') is shown on the first photo.  (Photo: By Innomann, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2658340)

 Mainz,  at the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers, was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC. 

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mainz

Mainz,  at the confluence of the Rhine and Main rivers, was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC. It became an important city in the 8th century AD as part of the Holy Roman Empire, Mainz is famous as the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of a movable-type printing press,. Mainz is notable as a transport hub, for wine production, and for its many rebuilt historic buildings. 

Historically, Mainz was just beyond the limits of the Norman and Danish Viking raiding and trading in the Rhineland area from 864 until about 885.  Never the less, the city walls were reinforced due to the Viking threat and the Vikings lost a battle near Mainz in 882. 

Saga Asia Stage 3 starts here and proceeds up the Main River to Regensburg, Germany. While transiting 50 locks or so along the way might seem onerous one could say they are much preferable to physically portaging a 20-meter ship!

Regensburg is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers.

regensburg

Regensburg is a city in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers. Inhabited since Stone Age times, then as an imperial Roman river fort, and  being the biggest medieval city site north of the alps, the medieval center of the city was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006 because of its well-preserved architecture and historical significance.  Regensburg is among the top sights and travel attractions in Germany. 

In 793, the Emperor Charlemagne ordered the construction of a canal—the Fossa Carolina connecting the Danube and Rhine basins.  Its functionality is debatable and its existence was very brief, but it raises the intriguing prospect that technically Vikings could have, however unlikely, historically made the same journey we make for Saga Asia 2023!

From here Saga Asia 2023 Stage 4 proceeds downstream along the Danube River.

budapest

With a history encompassing Celts, Romans, Hungarians, Mongols, Ottomans, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Hungarian Revolutions (1848 and 1956) into present day commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment it is no wonder that it takes three cities (Buda, Pest and Obuda) to make Budapest.

The central area of Budapest along the Danube River is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains notable classical architecture monuments including the Hungarian Parliament and the Buda Castle. The city also has around 80 geothermal springs, the largest thermal water cave system,  second largest synagogue, and third largest Parliament building in the world, all which make it a highly popular destination in Europe. 

Saga Asia 2023 Stage 5 crew will head down the Danube from here.

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, one of the three capitals on our route.

belgrade

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, one of four captitals on our route (the others being Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest).  It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula.

Belgrade is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe and the world. One of the most important prehistoric cultures of Europe, the Vinča culture, evolved within the Belgrade area in the 6th millennium BC.

From Belgrade, Saga Farmann will sail downstream through Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania before reaching the Black Sea.

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Constanta_Panorama

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Flag-of-Constanta

Constanța at the Black Sea coast of Romania is the city where Crew-6 and Crew-7 meet. The City of Constanța was called Tomis when it was founded.  (Images on the website of the Mayor office , Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10542464)

Miklagard - the Great City in Norse language - has had several names: Constantinople, Bysants, Tsargrad ("the Emperor's city" in Russian). The name now is Istanbul.

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DJI_0858

Istanbul is the greatest city of Turkey. The vikings called it Miklagard, meaning "the Great City" in Norse language. (Mikla=great, Gard=city.)

The city has been the capital for many great emperors through history. One thousand years ago, a lot of vikings served as guards for the emperor.

The Norwegian king Harald Hardraade ("Harold the Hard ruler") (1015-1066) served several years (1035-43) in the Emperor's army, and built up a fortune before he returned to be the King of Norway. His half brother Olav (995-1030), who also was King of Norway, had also served the Emperor.

Destinations

Tønsberg, Norway

Hansestadt Lübeck

Mainz

Regensburg

Budapest

Belgrade

Constanta

Istanbul-Miklagard

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