Qassiarsuk

Qassiarsuk (Old Norse: Brattahlid) is a settlement in Southern Greenland.

This village is the place Erik the Red once had his settlement. Several small stone huts and other traces of the Norse settlements can be seen in the area. In Qassiarsuk a chuch and a longhouse have been reconstructed to give visitors an understanding of life in those days.

Getting there

By boat

The tourist office in Narsarsuaq arranges trips every day, but it is also possible to hitch a ride with a fisherman.

Over land

Narsaq is situated 50 km by dirt road to the south. It should be possible to walk the road, and experience hikers can cross the countryside.

It is also possible to be shipped across the Narsarsuaq river from Narsarsuaq, and to walk along the dirt road.

See

If you talk with the people in the cafeteria, you can get a guided tour to the reconstruction of Thorhilda's church and a typical longhouse from the same period. You also see the typical dressings of the period, and maybe get to hear some Icelandic, the modern language most closely related to old nordic. It is also possible just to see the reconstructions on your own.

An original Inuit house can also be found in the village.

If you are into geology, you might keep an eye out for crystals in the area. As you walk along the roads look for faults and you may discover beautiful minerals in between the layers of rock.

Eat

The cafeteria is worth recommenting. It's situated in a pale yellow building with a view over the fjord, and if you've been hiking for days, the daily hot meal is wonderful.

Sleep

The village has two small hostels:

• Illunnguujuk vandrehjem

• The Leif Eriksson Hostel

Buy

Pilersuisoq (the supermarket) has even found it's way to serve the 50 people living here. They have kind of everything - just not very much of everything.