Roskilde – a trip to a nice Danish city!
 

I have been to Copenhagen and I have been to the Roskilde festival, the rock music festival that has been held on the fairgrounds outside Roskilde in Denmark since 1971. But I have never been to the city of Roskilde, not until the last weekend. And it turned out to be a really nice small city with a wide pedestrian street with wellpreserved old typical Danish buildings, proximity to the water and hilly residential areas. It seems to be a wealthy and wellorganized city, very different from the festival area. The only thing to complain about is that the center become pretty dead after the stores close.

It is situated just about 30 min by train to the west of Copenhagen, at the bay Roskildefjorden in Zealand. It is famous for its cathedral, the university, a viking museum and the Treaty of Roskilde. Even though it is small, it is the 10th largest city of Denmark, and Zealand’s second largest, after Copenhagen.

Population: 46 000 (metro 81 000)

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The train station. That is where we arrived from Copenhagen.

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At the square in front of the railway station, you can find these 3 decorated giant pots.

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Blue Danish back street architecture.

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Algade, the wide main pedestrian street of Roskilde.

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The pictures above are from Algade.

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A skybridge over Hersegade.

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Stændertorvet, the main square of Roskilde.

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Roskilde Domkyrka, The cathedral of Roskilde.


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Gamla Rådhuset, the former city hall of Roskilde from 1884.

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Gullendsstræde, named after the inn Gullend.

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Blågårdsstræde, a typical Danish street.

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Bondetinget, towards the cathedral.

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Nice back streets of Roskilde.

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Roskilde Cathedral (Roskilde Domkirke) from 1175. Treaty of Roskilde is the peace between Sweden and Denmark-Norway that was signed in the city of Roskilde in 1658 - in this cathedral. It was the first cathedral in Zealand and the first Gothic cathedral built in brick. It also has Romanesque features. It is famed as the cathedral with the largest number of royalties buried in the world – totally 20 kings and 17 queens.
Unfortunately you have to pay 25 dkr to get inside. It is totally dominating the skyline of Roskilde, since it is tall and stands on a hill.

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The hilly square in front of the cathedral.

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Small hilly lane in front of the cathedral.

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Odd Fellow Palace, the Roskilde branch of the Odd Fellow order.

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The grave of King Frederik IX.

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The backside of the cathedral.

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The gate between the Royal Palace and the cathedral.

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A house next to the cathedral.

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Det Kongelige Palæ or Det Gule Palæ (The Royal Palace or The Yellow Palace).
Here you can find Museet for Samtidskunst.

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Next to the cathedral, there is a park with sculptures made from trees.

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A nice residential area down the hill between the cathedral and the harbour.

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Large villas seen from Bypark (City park).

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Bypark (City park) is situated on a hill between the city center and the harbour.

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The modern Viking ship museum in the harbour, at Roskildefjorden.

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Viking ship museum at the Roskilde bay.

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The harbour with typical Danish boats at Roskilde bay.

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Roskildefjorden (Roskilde bay) stretches from the north of Zealand to Roskilde.

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A residential area on a hill above the harbour.

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Nice Danish housings at the hill above the harbour.

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Motorcycle to the sky.

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View of the cathedral.

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A small store with an oriental name.

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I didn’t expect Roskilde to be that hilly. Probably because the
festival area is located on a flat field.

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“Traffic jam” in Roskilde. 

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This curvy road felt exclusive.

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There were several of these wells in the city.

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It is a rarity in Scandinavia to see nice buildings in this condition.

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Some kind of nightclub.

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Algade, the pedestrian street again. This time abandoned!

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Algade is a big contrast to Copenhagen’s lively Strøget.

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There are several exclusive store brands at Algade.

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The railway station again.

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The cemetery, right next to the station, in the city center.


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Bonus pics: Copenhagen

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The new ferris wheel opposite the station looks really impressive after dark!

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Wind propeller at Rådhuspladsen.

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Strøget by night. Feels very noisy compared to Roskilde.

Lovely place, cant believe I haven't heard of it. Those thatched roofed cottages could easily be in S.W England.

Great pics mate - Roskilde is a nice place :)

Thanks for the tour! In my later stages of foreign travel, I skip the big cities and am concentrating on the medium-sized cities, and this is one I'd enjoy visiting!

What a charming little place! I was in CPH a few weeks back, and almost all of my Danish friends had been to Roskilde several times, and go on a regular basis. It seems to be a pretty thing - even my Norwegian gf and her friends have been a few times. The Germanic influence in Danish architecture makes a big difference with regards to details and looks; Norwegian architecture, by contrast, is much more austere and less ornate/detailed.