Roskilde Cathedral

Ever since the early Middle Ages, Roskilde Cathedral has been one of Denmark's most outstanding churches, being cathedral for the diocese of Zealand, and from 1923 for the diocese of Roskilde. It least two churches have preceded the present cathedral on the very same site. The first one was a wooden church erected by Harald Blaatand (Bluetooth). During the 11th century it was replaced by one or perhaps two consecutive churches made of travertine. Around 1080, however, the church was a three-aisled basilica built by bishop Svend Nordmand.

 

In the 1170's bishop Absalon began the erection of the brick church as a Romanesque church with long and wide transepts. Still, the construction was changed by Peder Suneson (bishop 1191-1214), who was inspired by Gothic cathedral construction in France. The actual church was finished a. 1280, but since then each century has added its own extensions in various styles.

Also the interior of the cathedral has been considerably changed in the course of time. Before the Reformation in 1536 the cathedral was Catholic. Almost half of the interior formed a closed choir including stalls for all the canons, and farthest to the east, the High Altar. Spread in the cathedral and the chapels there were furthermore a considerable number of side altars. After the Reformation the side altars were removed, new furniture was installed for the new Protestant service, and later the choir was opened to the west.

In 1995 Roskilde Cathedral was admitted to UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Since the Reformation all Danish kings - and almost all queens - have been buried in Roskilde Cathedral; many of them in special Royal Sepulchral Chapels. The Cathedral, however, also holds a few medieval Royal tombs. On the most dignified place, in the middle of the choir, is situated the magnificent sarcophagus of Queen Margrete I.

Kings and Queens Buried in Roskilde Cathedral:

Harald Bluetooth a. 940-86
Svein Forkbeard 986-1014
Svein Estridson 1047-74
Margrete I 1375-1412
Christoffer of Bayem 1440-48
Christian I 1448-81 Dorothea
Christian III 1534-59 Dorothea
Frederik II 1559-88 Sophie
Christian IV 1588-1648 Anna Cathrine
Frederik III 1648-70 Sophie Amalie
Christian V 1670-99 Charlotte Amalie
Frederik IV 1699-1730 Louise, and Anne Sophie
Christian VI 1730-46 Sophie Magdalene
Frederik V 1746-66 Louise, and Juliane Marie
Christian VII 1766-1808
Frederik VI 1808-39 Marie Sophie Frederikke
Christian VIII 1839-48 Caroline Amalie
Frederik VII 1848-63
Christian IX 1863-1906 Louise
Frederik VIII 1906-12 Louise
Christian X 1912-47 Alexandrine
Frederik IX 1947-72 Ingrid