Roskilde

Pack your suitcase and fill the trunk, Roskilde is with more than 50,000 inhabitants Denmark's 10th largest city and the old capital of the Danish kingdom, full of history and atmosphere. From Roskilde it is about 30 km to Copenhagen, and by train it takes only 20 minutes to get from Roskilde Station to Copenhagen Central Station.

Roskilde's history begins just before the Viking Age, making it one of Denmark's oldest cities. By the time we reach the Viking Age, the city has established many trade routes in Northern Europe, and with its favourable location at the bottom of Roskilde Fjord, the city develops into one of Denmark's largest cities. From the 11th century until the Reformation in 1443, Roskilde even serves as the capital of the kingdom. After the Reformation, Roskilde's development is put on hold for many centuries to come. It is only during industrialisation and the fixed rail link between Copenhagen and Roskilde that development starts again, but it is rapid. A modern port is established and businesses in all kinds of professions are set up in the magnificent historic town.

History is still important to Roskilde, and the town attracts more than 100,000 tourists from home and abroad every year. Foreign tourists are particularly interested in the Viking heritage of the Danes, which can be experienced at Roskilde Viking Ship Museum, beautifully situated right on Roskilde Fjord. The museum houses five original and, by any standards, well-preserved Viking ships. Among them is a longship, also called a dragon ship, measuring a full 15 metres, which the Vikings used to go to war, while the smallest ship is a small fishing boat measuring 3 metres in length.

The city's other most popular attraction is Roskilde Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, when Roskilde was still the capital of Denmark. It is therefore an important church, and as many as 39 monarchs are buried in its cemetery. The magnificent building is built in the Romanesque round-arch style with clear Gothic influences. It was the first such church built in brick in Scandinavia, pioneering a style of architecture that left its mark on the rest of northern Europe. The church also has a museum and hosts a number of concerts throughout the year.

If you want to experience something more contemporary, visit Ragnarock, an interactive museum of pop, rock & youth culture. The museum tells the story of Danish youth culture since the 1950s, accompanied by rock and pop music from the museum's small music stages, archives and interactive learning facilities. There's also a cafe, concerts and a museum shop with rock 'n' roll souvenirs. Another great place to see concerts in town is the Gimle venue, which since 2000 has been one of Zealand's most important stages for young, up-and-coming bands.

The town is also popular for shopping, in fact Roskilde was voted Denmark's best shopping town in 2012. Along the old cobbled streets you'll find a range of specialist shops, and in Roskilde's large shopping centre RO's Torv you'll find everything your heart desires.

The city's gastronomic scene, like its history, is authentic and diverse. The traditional choice might be the Restaurant Raadhuskælderen, just 50 metres from the city's world-famous cathedral. Here you can enjoy traditional bread rolls for lunch as well as a range of other light dishes. For dinner, the menu includes delicacies such as baked cod and roast beef. If you prefer a more international and modern touch to your dinner, you can dine at Restaurant Mumm, which combines traditions from Nordic cuisine and Danish ingredients with French and Spanish cuisine. Even more international is Restaurant Why, which combines Danish ingredients with Vietnamese cuisine.

A wonderful driving holiday awaits you in Roskilde, a city rich in history and a lively music and gastronomy scene.