Historical Roskilde

Roskilde was once the capital of Denmark. The city still bears traces of its important history.

The Cathedral on the ridge in the very heart of Roskilde cuts a prominent figure in the town and in the local landscape. The Cathedral was built down the centuries from 1175, so it represents a variety of architectural styles. In 1995, the Cathedral was added to UNESCO's list of the world's most precious cultural assets. 

The Viking Ship Museum

The Viking Ship Museum is the Danish museum for ships, seafaring and boatbuilding culture in Viking and medieval times. The Viking Ship Hall, the oldest part of the museum, was opened in 1969. It was designed as a large showcase for the display of the five Viking ships found at Skuldelev.

The hall also houses special temporary exhibitions and a cinema where a film about the excavation of the ships is shown.  An extension to the museum, Museum Island, was opened in 1997. This is where visitors can watch shipwrights at work in the museum boatyard. The Activity Centre, where the School Service is housed, is also on Museum Island.

A large collection of traditional Nordic wooden boats and Viking ship reconstructions are berthed in the harbour on Museum Island. Many of the vessels were built in the museum boatyard, which also does any necessary repair work.

Roskilde Museum

The permanent exhibitions at Roskilde Museum were completely renovated in 1997. The exhibitions primarily illustrate the history of the city from around 990 AD down to the 1970s - ending with the themes of RUC (Roskilde University), Rock music (Roskilde Festival), and Risø (the National Laboratory).
There is also a section showing the prehistory of Roskilde and the surrounding area.

In addition to these significant historical monuments and various museums, the city continuously strives to make its history visible and relevant. Its history is an integral part of the future development of the city.