Roskilde may be only 22 miles (35km) from Copenhagen,
but this small city has an ancient feel all its own. It dates back
more than a thousand years and was the capital of Denmark in
medieval times, as well as a hub of both Viking activity and the
Danish church.
The most significant attractions are the Roskilde
Cathedral, which is the burial site for Danish monarchs, and the
Viking Ship Museum, which displays ancient weapons, ships, and
other artefacts from the Viking Age.
The city is home to the Roskilde Palace, which is a
former royal residence and now contains an art museum. The town is
widely known as the home of the Roskilde Festival, one of Europe's
biggest and most popular music festivals.
Roskilde is a small and pleasant town, small enough
to walk around and containing a number of museums and galleries
worth visiting, as well as parks, cafes, pubs, and shops. Roskilde
has a pedestrian street running down the centre of the city and
here you can find a number of great places to eat, drink, and shop,
as well as a number of tourist attractions. The university ensures
a lively atmosphere, and the city of 52,000 is anything but
sleepy.