Tour of Denmark, around Copenhagen, Roskilde 5/8

Roskilde is a 40 minutes train trip to north west of Copenhagen, famous for a UNESCO Cathedral and Viking ship museum.

Roskilde cathedral was built in the 13th C, the first example of brick built cathedral in Scandinavia, and in gothic style.

The size is impressive and the lines made by bricks is attractive. The other reason that it is listed as an UNESCO site is because each wings have chapels built in different eras to house the tombs of the royal family, built in the most opulent style of that era, fascinating to see that in the many styles in the same building.

Viking ship museum displays 5 ships built a thousand years ago by Viking, from carrying cargo, general sailing to military uses.

They were sunk, when too old and hard to fix, in the straight and easy to sail channel to avoid being attacked. They were found in the 60’s and a slow long 30 plus years process of digging them up piece by piece, preserve the wood and rebuild to guesstimated size and shape.

What I learned most is the history of Viking, how these Scandinavian people were so strong from 800 to 1100AD, gradually united tribal groups in that area into the 3 countries now. And spread their power to England and northern Europe, leaving their language and building style behind.