Western Settlement

Western Settlement, Greenland

The Western Settlement (Vestribyggð) was a group of farms and communities established by Norsemen from Iceland around AD 985 in medieval Greenland. Despite its name, the Western Settlement was more north than west of its companion and located at the head of the long Nuup Kangerlua fjord (inland from Nuuk, the present Greenlandic capital).

At its peak, the Western Settlement probably had about 1,000 inhabitants, about a fourth the size of the Eastern Settlement, owing to its shorter growing season. The largest of the Western Settlement farms was Sandnæs. Ruins of almost 95 farms have been found in the Western settlement.

Much less is known about the Western Settlement than the Eastern Settlement, as there is very little mention and no direct description of it in any of the medieval sources on Greenland. The Norse settlement was last mentioned by the traveller Ivar Bardarson, who wrote to the Bishop of Bergen to describe conditions he observed sometime between 1341–60. In his voyage to the Western Settlement, he found only vacant farms.

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Founded: 985 AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Greenland

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4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Jessica boland (14 months ago)
i was recently invited to my cousins wedding and it was absolutely wonderful. Kim the wedding planner was fabulous and so helpful to everyone. i got to stay in the farmhouse and words can’t explain how magnificent it was. my whole experience was absolutely breathtaking.
Kaitlin K. (15 months ago)
The venue is stunning and remote, a dream location for a reasonable price. The flower garden is epic and glorious (see my profile pic). It’s amazing what Kim, the owner, has done with the land. Most of the staff is pretty friendly but I had some difficulty with the wedding coordinator, also Kim. Everything that needed to get done, got done. But it was hard to touchbase with her the weeks leading up to the wedding and the day of the wedding. (There is no cell service on the property.) She relayed messages to me and my husband through wedding guests instead of members of the wedding party. It made things unnecessarily stressful and confusing. Her demeanor was overall curt and unprofessional. She didn’t follow through with a lot that was in the contract and she had trouble keeping track of how much we paid her. She impatiently made decisions for me instead of deferring to my husband and I. Honestly, she seemed pretty burnt out and stretched thin. She was also super protective of the space. During the reception, she sat along the periphery with another man, to whom I was never introduced, like chaperones at a high school dance. Unfortunate but we didn’t let it affect the joy of our big day. Another thing, if you stay in the house, the master shower is pretty gross, filled with slimy mildew. I wish I had brought flip flops. The master bed frame is completely broken, presumably from, um, too much consummating.
Keara Hagerty (23 months ago)
My husband and I had our wedding here in July, 2022. To say that Kim and the property are amazing is such an understatement. We wanted a wedding that focused on good food, music, and one that was relaxed, personal, and full of nature and flowers. This venue exceeded every single one of our expectations. Kim was amazing to work with, extremely kind and genuine, while also being upfront and transparent. The inn and farmhouse are so charming and homey, and the barn made the perfect backdrop for our wedding (Kim has so many amazing decorations on hand). Perhaps our favorite part (besides getting married) was getting to spend the day before the wedding cutting our own wildflowers (!!!) And making our arrangements and bouquets. On top of all that, the Inn is extremely well priced. Especially considering everything you have on hand. We love this place!!
Sabrina Cuccia (3 years ago)
I am a long islander and I knew that venues here just weren't for me. We decided to look upstate in the mountains to find something more "us". My husband found this gem of a place and I am forever grateful that he did. We were truly going to book this sight-un-seen. We took a risk being so far away but ultimately Kim has everything (props, decorations etc) to make your wedding look picture perfect. From the gorgeous barn, wooden tables, mix-matched chairs...to the farmhouse surrounded by the Catskill mountains, everything was what we wanted/dreamed of. We had over 115 people traveling from Long Island and they all raved about this place. They said it was the most fun they ever had at a wedding, and I can conquer. I will never forget my wedding weekend here, it will always be held in my heart and my fondest memory. Kim is wonderful. She is helpful, patient and fulll of recommendations. We basically listened to her (food, DJ, bartenders) and we were just thrilled with everyone. Get married here.... you won't regret it!!
Heather Huie (3 years ago)
Great wedding venue and as a photographer it’s an awesome spot to shoot in! Nice staff and owners made the experience really enjoyable!
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