Home to one of the oldest monarchies in the world with a history tracing back to the Viking Age. History is everywhere in Copenhagen where cobblestone streets, palaces and royal artefacts make for a beautiful backdrop to the modern life lived by the Copenhageners of today.
Denmark: Hovedstaden – Roskilde Cathedral
About the Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral is Denmark’s royal burial church as well as being an active local parish church. The Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to a chronicle from the 1000s, King Harold Bluetooth built a wooden church in Roskilde. In 1022 Roskilde got its first bishop. Around 1080 a new church was built in travertine where the present brick cathedral stands.
The Cathedral was built around 1200 and was the first Gothic church in Scandinavia, and its pointed arches, vaulted ceilings and exterior buttresses enabled the construction of light and tall churches with large windows.
Originally, the church was Catholic but changed during the Reformation to be Lutheran.
Forty kings and queens are said to be buried here, with 37 of those confirmed. There are over 1000 graves in the Cathedral.
Like many of the churches we have seen during our travels around Scandinavia the edifice of Roskilde Cathedral is brick, and its sheer size is incredibly imposing. Whilst the outside of the church is dark that is not true of the inside, although the use of artificial lighting helped on the grey day we visited.
One of the first things that we noticed was the stunning church organ. We have a real thing for church organs, whether they are silent or being played – of course, nothing changes in the appearance of the organ in either case. This Baroque organ is known as the Raphaëlis organ, after the man who rebuilt it in 1554. He certainly did a great job!
We made our way up to the altar through the central aisle. The most prominent feature here was the impressive altarpiece, which is a Renaissance design that was made in Antwerp in 1560. Right behind the altar is what would have been the chancel when it was a Catholic church. After the Reformation, it became a burial chapel. In the chancel pillars are the graves of the church’s founders and in its centre are the sarcophagi of King Christian 5 and Quen Charlotte Amalie, King Frederik 5, and Queen Louise.
Over time, the Cathedral has been added to, mostly with more chapels to accommodate the graves of more kings and queens. In most places I have visited where members of the Royal family are buried, they are laid to rest underground with a stone monument showing their resting place. For some reason in Denmark, the royals are buried in sarcophagus in open view inside a chapel. We first visited the chapel where Denmark’s most famous king, Christian 4 is laid, together with the sarcophagi of his wife, son and King Frederik 3 and Queen Sophie Amalie. The chapel is spectacular, and its decorations are impressive, including a sculpture of Christian 4 and two massive paintings by Wilhelm Marstrand. It felt a bit like being on the set of ‘Game of Thrones’.
The most spectacular addition to the Cathedral is undoubtedly the so-called White Chapel, which was erected for Frederik 5 and his closest family. Work started in 1774 and should have taken only seven years to complete, instead, it took forty. Originally it was intended for five tombs, but Denmark became short of funds due to the war with England, 1807 to 1814, so there were no funds for constructing more additions to Roskilde Cathedral so twelve tombs were squeezed including Kings Christian VI, and Frederick VI, Christian VII, Frederik VII and Christian VIII plus their Queens. Very cosy!
Planning your visit to Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral is located right in the centre of the historic town of Roskilde
Please observe: It is not possible to park on Stændertorvet in the town centre in June, July and August 2024.
Train
It only takes 25 minutes by train to get there from Copenhagen, the Cathedral is, therefore, a perfect day trip from Copenhagen.
By train: almost all trains from Copenhagen Central Station heading West stop at Roskilde and you can find your train on publictransport.dk. Transportation is free with a Copenhagen Card.
Bus
Busses can drop groups off at Fondens Bro. General parking in central Roskilde is free for the first 2 hours. For more time use parking machines, which accept all major credit cards. Find parking spots here
The best time to visit Roskilde
Roskilde, a captivating city in Denmark, is nestled under the classification of Cfb or Marine West Coast, warm summer according to the Köppen climatic classification. The city experiences moderate, damp climates throughout the year, with cool summers and no dry season.
The best time to visit Roskilde
Vacationers seeking warmth and ample sunshine should consider visiting Roskilde during the summer months (June, July, and August). The comfortable temperatures, sitting between 18.4°C (65.1°F) to 20.4°C (68.7°F), and amplified daylight hours as high as 17.4 hours in June make for splendid conditions for sightseeing and other outdoor activities.
The Worst time to visit Roskilde
The periods of chilly weather from December to February should better be avoided by tourists. Temperatures can drop significantly during these months, reaching as low as -0.6°C (30.9°F) in February. It is also in this duration that Roskilde sees a higher percentage of cloud cover, reaching 71% in December, which limits sunshine and results in grittier weather conditions.
Where to stay in Roskilde
1. Comwell Roskilde
Boasting views of the Roskilde Fjord, Comwell Roskilde offers free parking and rooms with cable TV and WiFi access. Roskilde city center is a 5-minute drive from the hotel.
Seasonal dishes based on fresh produce accompanied by selected wines are served at Comwell Roskilde’s restaurant. Drinks are available in the hotel bar, featuring a terrace with fjord views. Please note that the restaurant and bar is closed on Sundays (except during Danish summer vacation).
Leisure facilities include table football, billiards and a fitness room. The area offers great opportunities for jogging and bicycling. The property has several cozy terraces, pavilions and patios.
2. Zleep Hotel Prindsen Roskilde
This cozy hotel is just a 3 minute walk from Central Station and is found close to Copenhagen’s main street, Strøget. It offers a furnished courtyard and free Wi-Fi.
Housed in an impressive 1880s building, Go Hotel Ansgar today provides neatly presented guest rooms with modern comforts.
All rooms have a fresh bathroom with a shower, as well as a work desk and a flat-screen TV.
The fashionable Vesterbro quarter is on Ansgar’s doorstep and offers an excellent mix of shopping, restaurants, nightlife and cultural attractions.
3. Budget – Roskilde Danhostel
Located in Roskilde and with Frederiksberg Slot reachable within 21 miles, Roskilde Danhostel has express check-in and check-out, non-smoking rooms, a shared lounge, free WiFi throughout the property and a terrace. The property is around 21 miles from Frederiksberg Have, 22 miles from Copenhagen Central Station and 22 miles from Tivoli Gardens. The hostel has family rooms.
At the hostel, the rooms are equipped with a closet and a TV. Roskilde Danhostel provides some accommodations that have city views, and rooms come with a private bathroom with a shower. The rooms include bed linen.
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