What was life like 1,000 years ago? Visitors to Lameschmillen were able to discover what a Viking camp might have looked like, thanks to the work of three medieval re-enacting clubs from Luxembourg. From clothing, to crafts, and cooking, everything was arranged to be as authentic as possible.
For the club members, this search for historical authenticity represents their passion. It took two days to set up the camp. The leisure activities, the kitchen area and crafting activities were based on historical sources.
But at the same time, they don't take it all so seriously: "Some clubs will spend the whole weekend sleeping on beds of straw, forgoing their mobile phones, that's a bit more hardcore. We're used to a certain degree of comfort, so we don't have a problem supplementing our authentic Viking beds with mattresses you can't see from outside", explains Andy Peiffer, president of the Esch-sur-Alzette club "Víkingar ór Aska".
In the evenings, the site opens to the public. The clubs take the opportunity to dispel any myths about the Vikings, and to show their hobby is about more than just wearing a costume. Many of the artefacts on display have been crafted by the club members themselves, or recreated in the image of historical items. Their long-term vision is to create a permanent open-air museum to authentically share the history of the Vikings.
