Roskilde
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Roskilde is one of the historical localities of Denmark. It is located on the West Zealand, 30 kilometres west of Copenhagen. It has about 49, 000 residents.
Roskilde was allegedly founded in the 980s by Harald Bluetooth and it grew as an important place of trading during the late Viking Era. It was the capital of Denmark from the 11th century until 1443.
Recreation
Music festival
The annually held Roskilde Festival is the biggest music festival in Scandinavia and has brighten the city since 1971. It attracts thousands of music-lovers from every parts of Europe. Every year Roskilde Festival Radio organizes a naked run around the camp site. One male and one female winner receives a ticket for the next year’s festival
The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde offers boat trips with traditional Viking boats.
Gudernes Stræde path in Lejre is 64 km long marked walking trail on asphalt, soil and grass.
Shopping
Club Skin-Dive (Maglegårdsvej 5C) sells jeweler and small souvenirs.
Bjergtrolden (Ringstedgade 30). This shop and café sells several beer marks and coffee, chocolate and awesome hats.
Something to explore
Cathedral
This Gothic and Romanesque styles mixing cathedral is one of the most important religious sites in Denmark. Its construction started allegedly 1170s, and it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The cathedral has been the main burial site for Danish monarchs since the 15th century, and it has seen many alterations during the burials.
Palace
This yellow Baroque mansion was build between 1733-1736 by king Christian VI. The 13th-century Gate of Absalon, which connects the mansion to the apse of Roskilde Cathedral, is the only surviving part of the bishop’s palace which was deconstructed on the site of the palace. Today the palace houses the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Palace Wing exhibition area. Garden of the palace is used for exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events.
The Viking Ship Museum
At the address Vindeboder 12, this extraordinary museum depicts several preserved ruins of 11th-century style Viking ships and has wooden copies of Viking ships in a harbor. Museum offers popular boat trips with the Viking boats. Here is also a Viking research center.
The Giant Jars
Sculptor Peter Brandes create these three five meter high jars, standing on the Hestetorvet Square, in 1998. Jars commemorate 1000 year anniversary of Roskilde, and they symbolise life and dead. One of the jars has inscribed a poem by Henrik Nordbrandt.
How to get around in Roskilde
There are a few local buses running from the train station, but the city is easily reachable by foot. See more information here.
How to get in Roskilde
Danish National Railways (DSB) operates trains from Copenhagen Central Station to Roskilde. Trip takes about 25 minutes. Almost all trains leaving Copenhagen, besides those leaving for Elsinore or Sweden, stops in Roskilde.
Intercity buses to and from Jutland, lines 882 to Fjerritslev and 888 to Aarhus/Aalborg, makes stop at the Q8 gas station at Darupvej 2, by the highway. It is quite far from the city center, but there are several bus lines connecting from Roskilde Station, e.g. 600S. Map of the bus lines is here.
Top 5 in Roskilde
- Cathedral
- Boat trip with the Viking ship
- Music festival
- Royal Baroque palace
- Sipping beer at Bjergtrolden
Text: Timo Hellman
Photos: With the CC licence / JesterWr, Knak, Nina Aldin Thune, Mariusz Paździora, Esther Westerveld, Orf3us, Justin Hall, Jonnmann[/fusion_text]
