Domkirkepladsen, Roskilde, Denmark
Roskilde Cathedral
A UNESCO World Heritage brick Gothic cathedral in Denmark that served as the Catholic cathedral of Roskilde before the Reformation and has been the burial church of Danish royalty for over five hundred years.
Roskilde Cathedral is built of red brick, and it set the pattern for brick Gothic architecture across northern Europe. Bishop Absalon — the same man who founded Copenhagen — began the current building around 1170, replacing an earlier wooden church, and construction continued into the thirteenth century. The cathedral was the seat of the Catholic bishops of Roskilde and the most important church in medieval Denmark until the Reformation in 1536 turned it Lutheran. But its role as the royal burial church continued without interruption. Over forty Danish kings and queens are buried here, in chapels and sarcophagi that span from the medieval period to the present. Each era added its own burial chapel, so the cathedral is ringed by additions in every style from late Gothic to neoclassical to modern. The interior is tall and relatively plain — whitewashed walls, brick columns, clear glass in many windows — giving it a clean, austere quality. The medieval choir stalls survive, carved with scenes that include a mermaid and other creatures. A clock high on the south wall features a mechanical St. George who strikes the dragon on the hour. The town of Roskilde sits on a fjord west of Copenhagen, and the cathedral spires dominate the skyline.
Diocese: Diocese of Roskilde (Church of Denmark)
Style: Brick Gothic
What to See
The royal burial chapels are the main attraction — each one reflects the taste of its era, from the medieval sarcophagi to the clean modern tombs of recent royals. The Christian IV Chapel and the Frederick V Chapel are the most elaborate. The medieval choir stalls have carvings worth examining closely — look for the mermaid. The mechanical clock in the south wall is entertaining to catch on the hour. The overall impression is of a building stripped to its essentials by the Reformation but retaining its dignity. The brick construction gives a warmth that whitewashed stone would not.
Pilgrim Notes
Roskilde is about twenty-five minutes west of Copenhagen by train. The cathedral is a short walk from the station, visible immediately by its twin spires. There is an admission fee. The Viking Ship Museum on the waterfront is a natural pairing for a day trip. For Catholic visitors, the cathedral is a place of historical reflection — Denmark was Catholic for five centuries, and this building was the center of that life. There is a small but active Catholic parish in Roskilde if you want to attend Mass during your visit.