Roskilde Cathedral

Roskilde Cathedral has been the main burial church of the Danish kings and queens since the 15th century, and Harald Bluetooth was buried in an earlier church on this spot in the 980s; its twin brick spires rise over the old capital west of Copenhagen. A UNESCO site and one of the earliest Gothic cathedrals in Scandinavia built of brick, it holds royal tombs in chapels added over the centuries, a stone chronicle of the monarchy.

Background

The present church was begun in 1170 and consecrated in 1225, though it was not completed until 1636. It measures 86 metres long, 27 metres wide and 75.7 metres high, and mixes Romanesque and Gothic features from the 12th and 13th centuries. Harald Bluetooth, who made Roskilde his capital around 960, built a small stave church of the Holy Trinity here and was buried in it in 985 or 986. After Ulf the Earl was murdered at Christmas 1026, his widow Estrid, sister of Cnut the Great, demanded a weregild, and it paid for a simple stone cathedral begun on the site around 1026, followed by a Romanesque basilica with two west towers, finished around 1080 by Svend Nordmand. Its walls show 800 years of European styles, and as an early brick Gothic church it helped spread the Brick Gothic style across Northern Europe. It hosts concerts throughout the year and draws over 165,000 visitors annually.

Source: Wikipedia, "Roskilde Cathedral"

What to look for

• The royal tombs - the graves of Danish monarchs across the many chapels.
• The brick Gothic architecture - the pioneering Gothic brick cathedral itself.
• The royal chapels - the burial chapels added by successive dynasties.
• The King's Pillar - a granite pillar where kings have had their height measured, Peter the Great in 1716 the tallest.

When to go

Year-round; an indoor visit for any weather, and a working cathedral, so check for services. It pairs with the nearby Viking Ship Museum for a Roskilde day.

Things to know

As a working cathedral, it may close for services and events. The many royal tombs are the highlight for those interested in the monarchy. It is a short train ride from Copenhagen, easily combined with the Viking ships.

Nearby

The Viking Ship Museum is by the fjord; Copenhagen is half an hour east by train.

Key facts