Admittedly, the Vikings series isn’t really about Ireland, but takes place in the Nordic countries… But did you know that Ireland was used as a filming location for the show? The series was filmed in the Wickow Mountains National Park to represent the famous village of Kattegat! So we couldn’t resist telling you about the famous show directed by Michael Hirst: this little television gem takes you back through the centuries to a world apart, where the Vikings stand out for their culture, their courage and their relationship with the gods! A warlike and historical series, where strategy and intrigue will literally leave you glued to your screen!
Ragnar Lodbrok
Michael Hirst has always been accustomed to epic, grandiloquent frescoes! Best known for his “Tudors” series, the director has made a specialty of historical series!
But with Vikings, success has exceeded all expectations! The program offers a fascinating saga on the world of the Vikings, and sheds light on a period that until now had remained untouched in the world of cinema and television!
The result is a headlong plunge into an unfamiliar universe, with the codes of a cultural society as complex as it is fascinating. We discover the warrior instincts of the Vikings, their unfailing belief in the gods and Valhalla… We’re intrigued by their ceremonies and sacrifices, their sense of conquest and their fighting methods…
It all began in Scandinavia in the 8th century. Ragnar Lodbrok is a young Viking warrior who lives in Kattegat with his wife. He soon began dreaming of new conquests, and wanted to explore the West by sea, a territory hitherto unexplored by the Vikings.
Despite his boss’s disapproval, he’s going to listen to his intuition, encouraged by the signs sent to him by the gods… He had his fleet of ships built and set sail with his men for England, ready to plunder and settle new lands!
Luggala Mountain and Lough Tay – © Michael Bogner
Although Ireland is sadly absent from the script, it remains at the heart of some mythical scenes! Indeed, the Irish country made its magnificent landscapes available for filming, contributing to the series’ inimitable atmosphere!
The mythical village of Kattegat was filmed in the heart of Wicklow Mountain National Park, an Irish national park famous for its wild open spaces, lakes and impressive mountains! Add to this a few special effects, and some retouching of the sky and water, and you’ll feel like you’re in Scandinavia, in the age of Viking warriors!
So, if you’re a fan of the series and want to return to the filming locations, be sure to check out the must-sees:
Other locations were also used, notably for battle scenes. It was also on the spot that many casting calls were made for Irish extras to take part in the war scenes.
And each time, the casting team was overwhelmed by applications… so much so that the program has been emulated in Ireland and the rest of the world!
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