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.

What to do and see in Roskilde

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. The museum offers popular boat trips with the Viking boats. There is also a Viking research center.

Palace

This yellow Baroque mansion was built 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. The garden of the palace is used for exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events.

The Giant Jars

The sculptor Peter Brandes created these three five meter high jars, standing on the Hestetorvet Square, in 1998. Jars commemorate the 1000 year anniversary of Roskilde, and they symbolise life and death. One of the jars is inscribed with a poem by Henrik Nordbrandt.

Recreation

Music festival

The annually held Roskilde Festival is the biggest music festival in Scandinavia and has brightened the city since 1971. It attracts thousands of music-lovers from every part of Europe. Every year the 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 a 64 km long marked walking trail on asphalt, soil and grass.

Shopping

• Club Skin-Dive (Maglegårdsvej 5C) sells jewels and small souvenirs.
• Bjergtrolden (Ringstedgade 30). This shop and café sells several different beer types as well as coffee, chocolate and awesome hats.

Kuvat: CC licence / JesterWr, Knak, Nina Aldin Thune, Mariusz Paździora, Esther Westerveld, Orf3us, Justin Hall, Jonnmann