Roskilde Municipality: Cathedral, Fjord and Nature

Culture

The medieval city of Roskilde is an important part of Skjoldungernes Land National Park. Roskilde Cathedral is a Gothic medieval cathedral, royal mausoleum and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Roskilde. More than 40 Danish kings and queens are buried in the richly decorated royal chapels; the cathedral also offers guided tours of these chapels.

Sankt Laurentius comprises a church tower and an underground church ruin two metres below Stændertorvet in the centre of Roskilde. The Roskilde Museum presents the cultural history of Roskilde and the surrounding region through archaeological finds and more recent objects.

The Rockmuseet tells the story of Danish rock and pop music from the 1950s to the present day. Visitors can explore interactive exhibitions and music-related installations there. Musicon is a post-industrial venue for urban culture, community and entrepreneurship.

Maritime

The Viking Ship Hall at the Viking Ship Museum permanently displays the five Skuldelev ships and tells the story of the ships and Nordic maritime adventure during the Viking Age. The Viking Ship Museum's Museum Island is home to a boatyard where visitors can watch shipbuilders at work.

From 1 May to 30 September, the Viking Ship Museum offers daily sailing trips in a traditional Nordic wooden boat.

Trails

The signposted circular route “Sti til Naturen” is 12.5 kilometres long and starts at Roskilde Cathedral. Roskilde Municipality also has five signposted, family-friendly circular cycle routes ranging from 10 to 20 kilometres in length.

The Fjordstien is an approximately 275-kilometre cycling and hiking trail around Roskilde Fjord and Isefjord in total. The Hedebostien connects Roskilde Fjord and Køge Bay while also passing close to natural and cultural-historical experiences.

Nature

Roskilde Fjord is designated as an international nature conservation area under Natura 2000. There are at least nine bathing spots in Roskilde Municipality.

Gundsømagle Sø is a bird protection area with an 800-metre footpath along the southern shore and an approximately 300-metre boardwalk through the reeds. In Gundsømagle Sø Nature Reserve, visitors can follow paths into the reeds and to the birdwatching towers and experience protected wildlife and plant life. A circular route from the car park near Østrup to the reed maze and back is approximately 3.5 kilometres long.

Bolund is a protected peninsula north of Risø in Roskilde Fjord and part of Skjoldungernes Land National Park. The route there leads across the beach meadow for approximately 500 metres; the entire circular route is approximately 3.2 kilometres long.

Festival

Roskilde Festival is an annual, eight-day music and culture festival held in Roskilde. In addition to concerts, it offers art, talks, films, workshops, communal meals and activities at the festival site and in the camping areas.

Getting there

The train journey from Copenhagen to Roskilde takes approximately 25 minutes. Thanks to the manageable distances, Roskilde is easy to explore on foot or by rental bicycle.

Places

At the direct local level, Roskilde Municipality includes Roskilde, Jyllinge, Gadstrup, Svogerslev and Viby Sj.

To the higher-level travel overview: Zealand.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Lejre, Sorø Municipality, Ringsted.