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Archaeological site · Qassiarsuk, Kujalleq
Brattahlíð
The ruins of Erik the Red’s farm, founded around 985, in Qassiarsuk, with replicas of the Norse longhouse and Tjodhilde’s small church and a statue of Leif Eriksson.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Brattahlíð
Brattahlíð was the farm of Erik the Red, the Norwegian exiled to Iceland who reached southern Greenland around 985 and brought the first Norse settlers. The farm was located where the settlement of Qassiarsuk stands today, on a green slope facing the Tunulliarfik fjord.
On the site you can see the stone and turf foundations of houses, stables and churches from different periods. Near them, in 2000, replicas were erected of a Norse longhouse and Tjodhilde’s small turf-and-wood church; Tjodhilde, Erik’s wife, is considered to have built one of the earliest Christian churches in the Americas. The reconstruction was a gift from Iceland for the thousandth anniversary of Leif Eriksson’s voyage.
Above the settlement, a bronze statue of Leif Eriksson, Erik’s son, looks out over the fjord. It was from Brattahlíð that he set out on the voyage that took him to the coast of North America, the land the sagas call Vinland.
The site is part of the Kujataa heritage area and shares the land with today’s sheep farms.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One to two hours.
Best time
From June to September, when the fields are green and boats arrive frequently.
How to get there
It is inside the settlement of Qassiarsuk, a few minutes’ walk from the quay where the boats land.
Tip
Combine the visit with a conversation with the locals: many of the settlement’s guides tell the sagas and describe farm life in detail.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Brattahlíð
What is Brattahlíð?
The property where Erik the Red settled around 985; today it contains ruins and replicas of period buildings.
Is Tjodhilde’s church original?
No. The one you visit is a reconstruction from 2000; the original church’s foundations lie nearby.
Who was Leif Eriksson?
Erik the Red’s son, who left Brattahlíð and reached the coast of North America around the year 1000. A statue of him stands above the settlement.