Udsigt over Roskilde med Roskilde Domkirke i forgrunden og Roskilde Fjord omgivet af øer og landskab i baggrunden under en himmel med skyer i aftensol.
Vikingeskib

Roskilde - Viking history, cathedral and culture

Nationalpark Skjoldungernes Land
Photo:Ole Malling&Werner Karrasch
In the cathedral city of Roskilde, you can experience UNESCO World Heritage, Viking history, and Northern Europe’s largest music festival.

Just 25 minutes from Copenhagen, Roskilde rises gently above the surrounding landscape and is beautifully situated by Roskilde Fjord. Here, you will find history, culture and nature in abundance, along with welcoming restaurants where you can relax and reflect on the many experiences of the day.

Natkirke i Roskilde domkirke

Photo:ZOLPER-FOTO

Top experiences in Roskilde

The story of Roskilde and its surrounding area has its roots in the Viking Age and the Middle Ages and is brought to life today through some of Denmark’s most significant cultural attractions. Roskilde Cathedral, with its royal tombs and UNESCO-listed architecture, sets the scene, while the Viking Ship Museum, Roskilde Museum, RAGNAROCK and Gimle together bring the city’s history, music and vibrant cultural life vividly within reach.

3 things you might not know about Roskilde

Roskilde station

Photo:Kim Hansen

1. One of Denmark’s earliest centres of power

In Roskilde, the presence of history is unmistakable, reflecting the city’s golden age as one of Denmark’s earliest centres of power and a focal point for both royal authority and the Church. This legacy stretches from the legendary King Roar of Roskilde to the Viking king Harald Bluetooth, who settled here and built the city’s first church in wood.

maglekilde

Photo:Gitte Nielsen

2. Multiple springs

It’s no accident that Roskilde’s name derives from the Danish word for spring, kilde. North of the Alps, it ranks as the city with the most springs.

Roskilde Domkirke

Photo:Christian Klarskov Larsen

3. UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1995 Roskilde Cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique architecture, ranking it among world famous monuments such as the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Wall of China.

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