Roskilde

History of Roskilde

Should you wish to become acquainted with the history of Denmark, it is natural to start in Roskilde. Through the ages Roskilde has played an important role politically as well as culturally, manifesting itself in the many different cultural activities in this area today.

Legend has it that King Ro founded Roskilde, but historically the town goes back to the Viking Age around the 990s. The many barrows in the area indicate that Roskilde was densely populated throughout ancient times. Lejre is inscribed in the history of Denmark as a central place of worship and a Zealand chieftain's seat.

King Harald Bluetooth, who erected the rune-stone in Jelling, was the founder of Roskilde. He buiit the first church of wood here, probably on the site of the present cathedral - and was buried here.

Rapidly the town became the centre of the Crown and the rich Catholic Church held a strong position in Roskilde. About 1020 the see of Roskilde was established, and before long there were 14 parish churches and five convents and monasteries besides the cathedral. In the Middle Ages Roskilde was considered one of the biggest and most important cities in Northern Europe with a population of 5,000-10,000.

At that time the cathedral on the plateau was surrounded by the town. Outside the ramparts by the fjord was a small fishing hamlet, Skt. Jørgensbjerg. In the Middle Ages there was a leper hospital here, and in the small village church from about 1080 there are remains from about 1035. It is thus the oldest preserved stone building in the country.

Queen Margrethe l was interred in Roskilde Cathedral about the year 1413, and the cathedral has been the favourite burial place of the Royal Family since that time. Today no less than 38 Danish kings and queens are buried here. The Reformation in 1536 marked a turning point in the history of Roskilde. The Catholic Church administration disappeared and all the convents and monasteries and most of the parish churches were abolished.

Decline was rapid, and by the mid-18^th century there were only 1500 inhabitants in Roskilde.

In 1847 the first railway line in Denmark was built between Roskilde and Copenhagen. This infused new life into the town, which grew as a commercial centre, and it has since become a traffic junction and a centre of education, research, trade and tourism.

Roskilde harbour

 

Roskildes historie har sine rødder tilbage til vikingetiden, hvor byen var en vigtig handelsplads. Senere blev byen bispesæde, og i dag har byen et blomstrende kulturliv med masser af aktiviteter for hele familien. Fra Sankt Hans til august er der hver tirsdag aften byparkkoncert bare 500 meter fra havnen; hver onsdag og lørdag er der torvedag ved rådhuset; onsdag aften er der folkemusik og -dans på museumsøen og lørdag middag er der jazz i Djalma Lunds Gård. På museums-øen er der i sommerens løb forskellige maritime aktiviteter. Gode muligheder for spise/sejlads.

Der kan lejes cykler på havnen ved kiosken, og havnekontoret er behjælpelig ved leje af bil.

Fra Sankt Clara Vej er der busforbindelse med linie 605 til centrum og banegård.