Of pagans and Christians!

The Viking Ship Museum and the Roskilde Domkirke feature in this photo. Every year the Viking Ship Museum is visited by 130,000 guests. In the summer months the museum puts some of their ships to water and one can have open boat trips on the Roskilde Fjord a daily basis or special trips for larger groups. -RS

Summer is here soon

At leat, that is what I hope dressing up statues in summer clothes signify!

This was taken in Roskilde, erstwhile capital of Denmark. Since 1971, the annual Roskilde Festival, a rock music festival, has been held near the town.

-RS

Not Just For Looking At

Outside of the Viking Ship Museum you'll find life-sized replicas of the ships inside, and these replicas are not only for looking at. In the summer months you can play out your inner Viking by sailing in these, pulling oars and raising the sail.

Distraction

When I'm photographing I'm often sidetracked by strange things. In this case it was the stones beneath the ships at the Viking Ship Museum that caught my eye...and lens.

Proud Prow

This proud prow was ploughing the waves between Denmark and Ireland before it was used to blockade the fairway through Roskilde Fjord.

Visitors

Even though the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde isn't free, it's one of the most popular museums in Denmark. And I do understand why, as a visit here shows a very important period in Danish history in an entertaining and informative way.

Preserving the Ships

It's amazing how the archaeologists have been able to preserve the old waterlogged Viking ships that were found in the nearby fjord. And it's even more amazing that they have been able to assemble the ships so that they now stand proud at the Viking Ship Museum.

Replicas

In the basement of the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde is an area with replicas of Viking ships, Viking items and Viking costumes so that visiting schools can try out how it was to be a Viking.

Viking Ships

Roskilde was the Danish capitol in the Viking-era, and one of the finest museums about the Vikings is of course placed here. It's the Viking Ship Museum with the remains of a number of ships found nearby and a really good exhibition to supplement these proud wrecks.

Two Towers

Roskilde Cathedral with its two spires can be seen for miles around the former Danish Capital of Roskilde. It was build during the 12th and 13th Century and was the first Gothic cathedral to be build of red bricks, starting a trend in Northern Europe. It replaced a stone cathedral on the site from 1080 and it has been expanded, renovated and rebuild numerous times. It was also the last Catholic stronghold in an otherwise Protestant Zealand until 1540 where all it's belongings were confiscated by the Crown.

From the 15th Century it has been the main burial place for Danish Monarchs but even earlier kings has been buried here, among them Viking kings like Harald Bluetooth and Sweyn Forkbeard. The last to be buried here was Queen Ingrid in 2000.

The inside is a combination of red brick, frescos and chapels along the nave with a large crypt underneath.

The copper roof has been replaced in the last couple of years so it has been covered in scaffolding for a long time but now it should be clear of the clutter.

Roskilde Cathedral website