21st Oct - Roskilde: Viking ships and dead monarchs
We took a day trip to Roskilde today which is the old Viking capital of Denmark about 40km west of Copenhagen. It's known for its viking boats and church which houses the burial chambers of most Danish monarchs since the Reformation.
The Viking museum is based around 5 viking boats (circa 1000 AD) found scuttled in the Roskilde fjord in the late 1950's. It wasn't until the 1962 that they could build a seaguard and pump out the water to extract them. After 25 yrs work restoring them, the display of the 'remains' of the boats are truly amazing. Since that time, a fantastic living museum has been built which includes replicas of each of the five boats (in summer you can watch more boats being built the traditional way and also crew the boats that are already built) along with the remains of the original boats). It was one of the better museums visited on the trip and catered for English speakers wonderfully. They also told the story of the vikings travelling down the Rhine pillaging and plundering (they forgot to mention the raping but were very discrete and careful not to glorify the wholesale slaughter and destruction of entire villages) which was an interesting insight. The whole display explained why the vikings travelled so far (they reached the mediterrean, Britain, the North Sea, Baltic and Greenland areas as well as far north America).
Roskilde viking boats (originals)
Replica viking boats at Roskilde
Our next stop after lunch was the Roskilde Domkirke (UNESCO World Heritage listed) which was started in its current form in 1170's. Since the Reformation all danish kings - and almost all queens - have been buried at the Catherdral.The catherdral also holds one of the most important church organs in Europe. You can easily see why 'Our Little Prince' will be called Christian as they have been alternating the future kings' names between Frederick and Christian since 1534.
The Viking museum is based around 5 viking boats (circa 1000 AD) found scuttled in the Roskilde fjord in the late 1950's. It wasn't until the 1962 that they could build a seaguard and pump out the water to extract them. After 25 yrs work restoring them, the display of the 'remains' of the boats are truly amazing. Since that time, a fantastic living museum has been built which includes replicas of each of the five boats (in summer you can watch more boats being built the traditional way and also crew the boats that are already built) along with the remains of the original boats). It was one of the better museums visited on the trip and catered for English speakers wonderfully. They also told the story of the vikings travelling down the Rhine pillaging and plundering (they forgot to mention the raping but were very discrete and careful not to glorify the wholesale slaughter and destruction of entire villages) which was an interesting insight. The whole display explained why the vikings travelled so far (they reached the mediterrean, Britain, the North Sea, Baltic and Greenland areas as well as far north America).
Roskilde viking boats (originals)
Replica viking boats at Roskilde
Our next stop after lunch was the Roskilde Domkirke (UNESCO World Heritage listed) which was started in its current form in 1170's. Since the Reformation all danish kings - and almost all queens - have been buried at the Catherdral.The catherdral also holds one of the most important church organs in Europe. You can easily see why 'Our Little Prince' will be called Christian as they have been alternating the future kings' names between Frederick and Christian since 1534.
posted by Most Liveable at 1:58 AM
4 Comments:
I am trying again. I love reading your blogs, you must be having a ball. is this what I am going to see. Floss
And here's me thinking all Scandinavians were neanderthals!! Only joking Lone, honest!! Great pics, really show the place off, keep up the good work.
Wow LEGGOLAND!! How much fun! You'll have to have kids now, if only so you can bribe them with your genuine Legoland purchases...
Sounds like you guys are having an amazing time. People in Europe are so hospitable, aren't they? Lone sounds lovely...
Guess where I went last night? My Wesley 15 year reunion! Aaaaaagh! Was quite fun actually. I wore a totally scandalous outfit and all the boys who used to tease me hit on me. Am now officially HEALED.
:-)
ps - Gorgeous jacket Tam!!
BIG HUGS!
Tahnee xx
Neaderthals?! Vikings, Rebecca, vikings! And Tam and Mark, so glad you enjoyed your stay, but I have to say: thanks for nothing!!! I've now become SO dependent on that "awfull" dessert Mark made that I will end up having gained a ton before x-mas!!! (it is excellent with vanilla ice cream as well :-) Lone
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