ROSKILDE - DENMARK |
| |
|
Roskilde (population 52,572) is an ancient city in Denmark, situated in the
island of Zealand, 30 km west of Copenhagen.
The city's early importance is evident from the fact that the Roskilde
cathedral was the only cathedral in Zealand until the 20th century. At the
Reformation in 1536, the Bishop's residence was moved to Copenhagen, and he
from then on held the title Bishop of Zealand.
The cathedral,
dating from the late Middle Ages, in the Gothic style, is the burial place
for most Danish kings and queens. For this reason, several royal burial
chapels have been added to the building, somewhat changing its appearance. (See
Margaret I of Denmark.) The cathedral is a major tourist attraction. Another
attraction is the museum that exposes the reconstruction of some viking
ships of the 13th century.
|
|
In the 20th century, Roskilde became a university city; Roskilde University
(Danish: Roskilde Universitetscenter) was founded in 1972.
Since 1971, a rock music festival has been held annually in the vicinity of
Roskilde, the Roskilde Festival. It has grown to become one of the biggest
rock/pop festivals in Europe. |
