My brother and sister-in-law had to work for our next few days in Denmark, so we were on our own! I had known all along I wanted to fit in a day trip to Roskilde. With fair weather in the forecast, we headed off.
This is a very accessible day trip from Copenhagen. We hopped on a train, and about 45 minutes later were buying entry tickets for the Viking Ship Museum.
Like the Vasa, this museum is built around the history of five original Viking ships that were discovered in nearby Roskilde Fjord. The ships date back about 1,000 years and historians have used them to paint a picture of how Vikings traded, traveled, and fought at sea.
I really appreciated that the museum didn’t just feel like a collection of artifacts (to me, the ship remains were the least impressive part… after seeing the Vasa, a ship that’s only partially intact isn’t quite as impressive).
This is also a functional shipbuilding site. We got to watch men and women building full-scale Viking ship reconstructions for both the museum and private collectors. You can even sail on replica Viking boats out on the fjord! In other words, it feels more hands-on than most history museums.
The museum is positioned right on the waterfront so we were looking at original ship remains that were displayed against a backdrop of the same waters where they once sailed. If you’re interested in Viking history, this spot is definitely worth a visit.
I knew there were guided tours offered a few times a day and we happened to arrive when the first tour of the day had just started. We hurried along and joined the tour.
Our guide was great and full of all sorts of interesting facts about ship construction and the restoration efforts. Again, having visited the Vasa Museum so recently, some of the techniques being described were very familiar!
We ended the tour on board a reconstructed Viking ship.
Viking ships were made in a unique “clinker” style, so the boards overlap. Their construction is very different from that of other ships, and it was particularly well suited to rough seas and strong winds.
They have stations about the different rope-making techniques and all the different natural fibers used to create incredibly strong, flexible, and durable ropes.
Indy was a big fan! (A lot of things on this ship were coated in tar; thankfully none of us got any on our clothes, but it’s definitely a distinct possibility.)
Almost immediately, we joined a second tour; this one was specifically designed to explain more about ship construction. We got to talk to workers who are currently preparing a Viking ship in the traditional method (using only axes because that way you can follow the natural fibers of the wood, leaving the planks flexible).
It’s a slow process and was fascinating to see them work and learn about the techniques.
We also spent a bit of time in the modern shipbuilding section where they produce smaller clinker-style boats for private clients. Yes—if you have enough money and the particular inclination, you can own your very own Viking ship!!
It smelled soooo good!!!
There are all sorts of ships (with informational plaques) lining the harbour.
While we explored big ships, Indy spotted the hands-on model ship building station and that’s where he stayed for the next hour. John pointed out there were First Aid kits scattered around the perimeter of this section. The saws were not particularly sharp but he had fun and, thankfully, came away with all his fingers and toes.
He had so much fun!
Setting sail.
We eventually pulled him away from boat-building and headed inside.
In general, Europe does a great job of making museums interesting for kids (my own might disagree). The highlight inside was this costume and play area on a ship!
He had to fit in a tree pose.
This is his best Master and Commander stance!
We probably spent about 3 hours at the Viking Ship Museum and that felt like a good amount of time. It’s not huge and while there are lots of interactive exhibits, it’s a spot you can go through relatively quickly.
The only other thing I had planned for the day was a visit to Roskilde Cathedral.
Generally, I’m not keen on spending money to enter churches, but this was a notable exception!
For starters, it ticks off my Visit Lots of UNESCO World Heritage Sites box. It’s also notable for being made entirely of brick. (I am here to confirm there is a lot of brick!)
In a way, it’s also essentially a giant cemetery. There are almost 40 kings and queens buried here inside a series of chapels and tombs which offers a good overview and timeline of the Danish monarchy.
Admittedly, I’m not overly interested in the Danish monarchy, so I was mostly there to admire the architecture. All the brick really is stunning!
The interior is gorgeous, too!
It had been a while since their last arch statue pose!
Look at this herringbone pattern!!!
This is St. George and the Dragon Clock that dates back over 500 years. In addition to telling the time, it also shows the current positions of the sun and moon.
Above the clock are figures of St. George and the Dragon, along with two bell-ringers known as Kirsten Kimer and Per Døver. When the clock strikes, the figures move: St. George attacks the dragon, the dragon yelps, and the bell-ringers mark the quarters and hours.
I made our family wait an extra five minutes to see it. The kids would argue it wasn’t worth it… but I’m glad I can say I watched the performance such as it was (it’s definitely no Marienplatz Glockenspiel)!
The sculptures in this chapel were made by the same artist (Edvard Eriksen) that created The Little Mermaid statue that’s so famous in Copenhagen Harbour.
This column was hilarious! It’s the heights of dignitaries. An elevated nod to marking your kids’ height on a doorpost?
This is a bench that’s covering a very funky-looking glass sarcophagus that’s already been designed and created for Queen Margrethe II who is currently in her late 80s. (To be fair, my parents already have their headstone in place at their future gravesite; the only thing left to add is their death dates which is horrifically sad and also pragmatic and very much jives with my parents’ approach to future planning.)
As someone who has visited her fair share of churches, this one is stunning and definitely worth a visit.
These are the Roskilde Jars, located just outside the train station. They look like they might be ancient but were created in the late 1990s to celebrate Roskilde’s 1,000th anniversary.
And that’s a wrap on our day trip to Roskilde.
Your turn.
- Have you ever made a wooden boat? I grew up doing it every summer with scrap wood at my parents’ cottage.
- Would you design and install your own headstone before your death?
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