- from 2011 -
From catapults to camera stabilisers
toulouse
We had to learn the ropes first, and that took a lot of work! Catapults, potato cannons, a band saw, a home-made stabiliser…
The saga began in 2011, when five valiant Vikings from the Toulouse countryside, passionate about history and DIY, joined forces around a new project: building a replica of a wooden Viking ship.
The founding act of the alliance set out the main lines: the boat, made of solid oak, must be able to carry at least five warriors and will be powered by four oars and a square sail.
- 2015 -
the first boat
toulouse
The construction of the boat was inspired by the work of the naval architects at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark: by rebuilding ships using historical techniques and sharing photos on their website, they helped us visualise the different stages of the build. We even went to meet them in person in 2013 to see it with our own eyes, ask technical questions and make contacts that proved useful later on.
After five and a half years, the Bátar was completed. The ship is over five metres long, with seven clinker-built strakes true to the typical construction of Scandinavian boats of the era, and carved figureheads at bow and stern – ready for adventure and conquest.
- 2016 -
the launch
lake saint ferréol
The end of construction was officially celebrated with a launch ceremony on 12 August 2016 on Lake St Ferréol, marking the 20th anniversary of its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In front of an audience of several hundred people, no fewer than 30 extras took part in a spectacular show retracing the adventures of a Viking band and their successful raid on a monastery on the English coast.
- 2017 -
the first expedition
toulouse - roskilde
Not wanting to stop there, we set off on a new adventure in July 2017: taking the longship to Scandinavia and sailing its fjords.
We took all our gear on this 7,500 km journey from Toulouse to Copenhagen, Roskilde, Trelleborg, Stockholm and Oslo.
A memorable and well-documented expedition.
- 2018 -
The Bátar Fyr
lake saint ferréol
Barely back home, strengthened by our experience and new recruits, we at the Compagnie du Bátar decided to step things up.
We got hold of the plans of an authentic longship and got to work. 12 metres long, 20 people on board including 14 rowers: those are the specifications of the new Bátar Fyr. A series of videos was made to document the different stages of the build.
- 2019 -
Launch of the Bátar Fyr
LAKE SAINT FERRéol
So we had to return to Lake Saint-Ferréol to celebrate the launch of the Bátar Fyr, 3 years after raiding the English coast.
Our Viking band, now larger and better equipped, had prepared for a new expedition, with glory and riches at stake. Meanwhile, on the ruins of the monastery that fell to the Norsemen, an even bigger building had risen, as if to defy the past. Not far away stands one of the many fortified camps along the coast. This time, the kingdom’s army would be ready…
60 extras, 6 horse riders, 2 longships and breathtaking sets.
- 2020-
The second expedition
denmark, sweden, norway
Then came the culmination of 2 years of hard work: in 2020, the Bátar Fyr reached the homeland of its original designers, sailed by an ultra-determined team.
On the programme: 21 days of sailing between Denmark, Sweden and Norway to meet the Viking Ship Family (the modern-day Vikings of Tønsberg, Roskilde and Bergen), absolutely stunning landscapes, big emotions, and putting one of the most modern longships in the world to the test.
- 2022 -
The third expedition
NORWAY, DENMARK
A year later, we did it again. Two weeks, six countries crossed, speed and distance records broken, old friends reunited, and intensive training aboard a Viking ship twice the size of ours.
- 2023 -
The FOURTH expedition
Norway
Goal: to match the longest expedition the collective had ever completed, and also to train new members in sailing a Viking ship. We spent 4 weeks in Norway, from the Lofoten Islands above the Arctic Circle down to Bergen. 23 people, 1,500 km of travel.
- 2024 -
The fifth expedition
CROATIA, ITALY
A month-long voyage in the Mediterranean aboard the Saga Farmann. Training in watch-keeping and life aboard a Viking ship. Preparation for the expeditions aboard Orkan.
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For 2 weeks we sailed Scandinavian waters to train and gain experience. During the first week we were able to join the crew of the Saga Farmann, a 22-metre Norwegian ship we had already sailed on the previous year.
In 2023, our goal was to match the longest expedition the collective had ever completed, and also to train new members in sailing a Viking ship. So we set off for 4 weeks, from the Lofoten Islands above the Arctic Circle down to Bergen in Norway. 23 people and 1,500 km of travel aboard our boat built in Toulouse.