Sct. Jørgensbjerg Church, One of Denmark’s oldest churches
St. Jørgensbjerg Church stands beautifully on top of St. Jørgensbjerg Hill, overlooking Roskilde Fjord. The church is considered one of Denmark’s oldest preserved and still active churches and serves as a rare testament to early Christianity and architecture in Denmark.
The oldest parts of the church are the chancel and nave, which date back to the 11th century and are built of limestone. The building contains some of the earliest preserved examples of stone church architecture in Denmark and can, based on coin finds, be dated to the reign of King Cnut the Great. St. Jørgensbjerg Church has for centuries been a striking landmark in Roskilde.
Early Romanesque architecture
On the church’s north side, you can see one of Denmark’s oldest surviving examples of stone architecture, dating from around 1030–1035. The portal is made of limestone and originates from an even older stone church that stood on the site before the present building. This reuse reflects the transition from wooden churches to the first stone churches in Denmark.
A “petrified stave church”
One of the unique features of St. Jørgensbjerg Church is the slender round columns visible on the corners and along the nave’s walls. This type of decoration is otherwise typical of wooden churches and has earned the church the nickname a petrified stave church – a rare architectural feature in Danish church design.
Later additions and church life
Throughout the Middle Ages and later periods, the church was expanded with additions such as a porch and a tower. Inside, elements from several historical periods remain, though the overall impression is still dominated by its early Romanesque architecture. The church is still in use today and plays an active role in Roskilde’s church community.
Tip
After visiting St. Jørgensbjerg Church, you can follow the paths down towards Roskilde Fjord for beautiful views of the water and the city. The visit can easily be combined with a trip to the Viking Ship Museum – one of Roskilde’s most famous attractions – or a visit to Roskilde Cathedral, where the story of Roskilde’s history continues.