Roskilde Travel Guide
When people think of Roskilde, they think of the music festival. But Roskilde has so much more to offer than (amazing) music!
Located on the island of Zealand, Roskilde is an ancient city dating back to the Viking age and was once home to the legendary King Hrothgar. Hrorthgar reigned throughout the 6th century and appears in several Anglo Saxon epic poems, including Beowulf.
Roskilde is also home to the first Danish cathedral. This gave the town great significance, particularly in eyes of the Catholic Church. With the support of the Catholic Church, Roskilde thrived for many centuries until the Reformation which resulted in the closure of the Catholic Church.
The years following the Reformation were detrimental to Roskilde; the city deteriorated under an influx of plague, war and devastating fires. However, since the building of the railway from Copenhagen in 1847, the city has been improving economically. This recovery has also been aided by the opening of Roskilde University and Roskilde Festival which brings in thousands of people annually.
Roskildes main tourist attraction is the Roskilde Cathedral; its breathtaking gothic and Romanesque design brings in over 125,000 people annually. Inside the Cathedral is a Museum which tells you the story of the Cathedrals history since it was built in the 12th century.
Another attraction is Roskilde Palace. Located next door to the Cathedral, this building was built in the Baroque era in order to provide suitable lodging for Kings and Queens passing through Roskilde. In addition, this building was used by the Duke of Wellington during the siege of Copenhagen in the early 19th Century. The two art museums incorporated within the Palace (the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Roskilde Art Association) make it an even more worthwhile visit.
So dont think Roskilde is just a by-word for a rock and roll festival. But if youre just in town to see the music, make sure you take advantage of the beautiful sights around Roskilde. You wont regret it!