DVBLINIA & THE VIKING WORLD
Dublin City, County Dublin

Dublinia and the Viking World are located in Synod Hall beside Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral. Dublinia first opened its doors in 1993 with displays of Dublin's medieval history. In 2005, the exhibit expanded to incorporate The Viking World, which took over from the Viking Experience when it closed on Wood Quay. As such, there are two separate exhibits here, though we can't forget Synod Hall and the Church of St. Michael's the Archangel.

Synod Hall

Synod Hall was built on the foundations of a previous medieval church, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, by Victorian architect George Edmund Street. Before Synod Hall was built, St. Michael's was completely rebuilt in the 1670, though only the tower survives today. Men working on the foundations of the Hall discovered piles of oak and horizontal timbers that were believed to have been used by medieval builders.

Builders found it difficult to work with the deep strata and steep north-facing slope, but came up with a solution that was probably to the detriment to archaeological remains. They employed a new technique by dumping around 3,000 tons of concrete into the foundations then proceeded to build the Hall.

Some of the noteworthy points of interest within the hall include pointed arches, doorways and windows, which reflect the neo-Gothic style of architecture so popular of the time. Steeply

pitched roofs along with great ranks of chimneys emphasized the building's ecclesiastical character.

St. Michael's Tower and the Church of St. Michael the Archangel

This is the oldest part of Synod Hall and is a popular attraction for visitors. This is the only remaining structure dating back to the original Church of St. Michael the Archangel. Visitors are welcome to climb the 96 steps to the observation deck, which offers a panoramic view of Dublin's city skyline from what was once the heart of medieval Dublin.

The Viking World

The Viking era began with the first raids in Ireland in 795AD and ended at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014AD, though Viking settlement continued for another hundred years until the coming of the Normans in 1169AD.

This exhibit tells the story of Scandinavian Viking raiders, traders and settlers from their first attacks on English and Irish monasteries to the end of the Viking era. Visitors can experience life onboard a Viking warship, discover why Vikings raided monasteries and why they took people for slaves.

Often seen as bloodthirsty pagans, learn how these people perfected international trading, were experts in artistic expression and how their town development skills sculpted many cities around Ireland, and other countries around the world where they settled.

Dvblinia/Dublinia

This is an interactive exhibition that traces the history of Dublin from the capture of the city by Richard "Strongbow" de Clare in 1170 to the closure of the monasteries in the 16th century under Henry VIII. Accurate portrayal of life in medieval Dublin allows visitors to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the city through life-size reconstructions. Learn how criminals were punished in the pillories, how heavy medieval armor really was and what happened if you had a toothache in the 13th century. Highlights include a busy market place, a rich merchant's house, noisy medieval streets and a scale model of the city in late medieval times.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the museum where there are displays of artifacts discovered during excavations at Wood Quay, on loan from the National Museum of Ireland. Visitors will see the well-preserved skeleton of a 12th century woman, which is one of the key artifacts In order to reconstruct her face, so that we can see what she might have looked like, her skull was sent to the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science at the University of Glasgow. Now it's possible to look a 900 year old Dubliner in the eye!

~ Pay attraction, guided tours only
~ Accessible in most instances

http://www.dublinia.ie