Roskilde – classic red-brick, arts and fjord
The impressive red-brick Roskilde Cathedral perched on a hill may be the first thing you notice, but Roskilde and its surroundings also have a lot more to offer. True to Danish principles of pleasant and ecological living, the town center is well equipped with pedestrian areas, a market square and shopping, while the nearby gasworks has been recycled to house a glassblower and an art gallery. Meanwhile the cathedral is a big draw, not only for its architecture and location, but also because it is the final resting ground for Danish royalty.
Although in the center of Zealand, Roskilde is also next to a fjord and (Viking) boat trips are available from the Roskilde harbor to see the archipelago. Biking and trekking are also popular activities in the countryside around. The fjord also yielded the discovery of five Viking ships some years back, which are now housed in the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum (Vikingeskibsmuseet). On a more contemporary note, Roskilde also hosts an annual music festival, one of the largest in Europe, with musical genres ranging over rock, electronic, metal, dance, hip-hop, world music and more.
