Press releases

VITEBSK, 26 April (BelTA) – A team of Viking age re-enactors from all over Belarus will start on a journey on a wooden boat along the Neman River to the Baltic Sea, BelTA learned from Artem Leshchina, one of the participants in the project, member of the Vitebsk historical re-enactment and modeling club Naglfar.

“The trips on old boats, or drakkars, have already been made in the CIS countries but not for such long distances. The project attracts much attention also because this will be a journey along a river and into the sea. We have put the team together. We already have 13 members. These are people from different clubs in Belarus, including three people from Vitebsk, but we still need three more rowers,” Artem Leshchina noted.

The travelers are expected to set off from Grodno on 15 May. The Viking ship will be transported to Grodno from Nesvizh. The vessel is a replica of the original boat which dates back to the 10th century. The drakkar is 14 meters long and can carry up to 20 people.

The three-week journey to the Baltic Sea will include a number of exhibition shows. “The crew will wear historical costumes, and also swords and axes. During stops we will set up tents with the help of oars. We will try to be historically accurate as much as we can,” Artem Leshchina added.