For 300 years, from the 8th to 11th centuries, the Vikings took the world by storm. In search of land, slaves, gold and silver, these brave warriors and explpres set sail from their homes in Norway, Sweden, and Danmark. They raid across Europe,
traveled as far as Baghdad, in modern Iraq, and even reached North America. the
speed and dairng of Viking attacks was leyendary. Cristian monks wrote with horror
about the violent raids on monoasteries and towns. But the Vikngs were more than wild barbarians from the north.They were shrewd traders, exelent navigators, and superb craftsmen and shipbuilders. They had a rich tradition of story-telling, and livedin asociety that was open and democratc for its day.
Viking Garden Restaurant is located in the historic Jensen's Copenhagen Square.
The building is the first Danish Style commercial structure in Solvang, California,
built with a unique cross hatched roof accompanying a storks nest meaning good luck.It is located at Copenhagen Drive and Alisal Road, a popular shopping and dining area.
Solvang was founded in 1911 as a Danish-American colony. A group of Danish Educators from the Midwest were in search of an area rich in soil and site to build a Danish type folk school. Solvang meaning "Sunny Field" had potential due to its location between the Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountain ranges.
As the settlers earned a living tilling the soil and melding their culture into the town, the news spread throughout. An article published on January 18, 1947 in the Saturday Evening Post, about "The Little Denmark" became a promotional piece for tourism; all though it was merely an observation of the town. People soon began to travel from all over to visit and see the new settlement. Today Solvang has developed into one of the principle tourist attractions in the Country.
