It’s been over 1,000 years since the Vikings last sailed on the Seine, but now Saga Farmann has paid a visit to Paris. After days on the river, the ship sailed in towards the Eiffel Tower, greeted by waves from tourist boats, curious police patrols, and hundreds of visitors eager to experience Viking heritage up close.
By Elin Fylling
Some of the crew arriving in Paris: On the left, Captain Karl in red, behind him Sven-Erik, next to him sits Rita and project manager Lars. In green we see Adrian, and in yellow, Anastasiia.
A unique voyage through the heart of Paris
After a few calm and beautiful days on the Seine, passing through towns like Saint-Mammès, Melun, and Corbeil-Essonnes, Saga Farmann sailed into the heart of Paris on Monday, July 28. We moored at what must be the best spot in the entire city, Port Debilly, with the Eiffel Tower as our closest neighbor.
The voyage through Paris was an experience in itself. Among all the tourist boats, our Viking ship stood out clearly, and we were met with waves and smiles from both passengers and people standing on the bridges along the river. Traffic on the Seine in Paris is busy, but with the help of a local who usually captains a hop-on-hop-off boat, we navigated safely through the city and right to our unique berth.
Once we arrived, we finally raised the mast, a task that went smoothly thanks to excellent teamwork among the crew. In the middle of our work, we had an unexpected visit: a police patrol from the Préfecture de Police sped past but suddenly made a sharp U-turn when they spotted our ship. Curiosity got the better of them, and soon the entire patrol was on board. They took their time to look around and showed great interest in our project.
Viking event with Owatrol
The very next day, July 29, one of our most important sponsors, Owatrol, hosted an event on board. Dressed in Viking clothes, and with perhaps the most iconic view in Paris behind us, we welcomed guests and finally met the Owatrol team, who have supported us both financially and with products specially tailored for the ship.
A collaboration with the Musée national de la Marine
Saga Farmann stayed for a week in Paris through a collaboration with the Musée national de la Marine. As part of a cultural and ticketing partnership with Oseberg Vikingarv, the museum and crew invited the public on board to experience a real Viking ship up close, right in the heart of the French capital.
This was a fantastic opportunity to share our Viking heritage and tell stories from our three years at sea. We met a large number of interested and engaged visitors, and our stay in Paris gave us memories for a lifetime, before the voyage now continues towards Honfleur, the English Channel, and London.
Translated to English by ChatGPT