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Roskilde Cathedral*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Denmark
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Reference	695
Region†	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Inscription	1995  (19th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Roskilde Cathedral (Danish: Roskilde Domkirke), in the city of Roskilde on the Island of Zealand (Sjælland) in eastern Denmark, was the first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick and its construction encouraged the spread of this Brick Gothic style throughout Northern Europe. It was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, and incorporates both Gothic and Romanesque architectural features in its design. It was the only cathedral in Zealand until the 20th century. The cathedral's twin spires dominate the skyline of the town.

Roskilde Cathedral has been the main burial site for Danish monarchs since the 15th century. As such, it has been significantly extended and altered over time as individual rulers have added multiple burial chapels. Following the Reformation in 1536, the Bishop's residence was moved to Copenhagen, and he from then on held the title Bishop of Zealand. Royal coronations normally took place in Copenhagen's Church of Our Lady or the chapel of Frederiksborg Palace.

It is a major tourist attraction, bringing in over 125,000 visitors annually. Since 1995 the cathedral has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Boys' Choir

Since 1987, the cathedral has been the home of one of Denmark's leading boys' choirs, the Roskilde Cathedral Boys' Choir.[1] The choir, soon celebrating its 20th birthday, is a key resource in the parish youth work. All choristers go to normal school but meet up 2-3 times a week to rehearse. Every second year the choir travels abroad; destinations being as different as New Zealand, Scandinavia, England, Greenland, France and Canada.

A working church, it also hosts concerts throughout the year.

Members of the Danish royal family entombed here are:

• Harald I Bluetooth (supposedly, but doubtful; died around 986)
• Sweyn I Forkbeard (1014)
• Sweyn II Estridsen (1074)
• Margaret I (1412)
• Christopher III of Bavaria (1448) and Queen Dorothy of Brandenburg (1495)
• Christian I (1481)
• Christian III (1559) and Queen Dorothy of Saxony-Lauenburg (1571)
• Frederick II (1588) and Queen Sophia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1631)

Tomb of Margaret I

• Christian IV (1648) and Queen Anne Catherine of Brandenburg (1612)
• Frederick III (1670) and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1685)
• Christian V (1699) and Queen Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1714)
• Frederick IV (1730) and Queens: Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1721) and Anna Sophie Reventlow (1743)
• Christian VI (1746) and Queen Sophia Magdalena of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (1770)
• Frederick V (1766) and Queens: Louise of Great Britain (1751) and Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1796)
• Christian VII (1808)
• Frederick VI (1839) and Queen Marie of Hesse-Kassel (1852)

The altar in the cathedral.

• Christian VIII (1848) and Queen Caroline Amalie of Schleswig-Holstein (1881)
• Frederick VII (1863)
• Christian IX (1906) and Queen Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1898)
• Frederick VIII (1912) and Queen Louise of Sweden-Norway (1926)
• Christian X (1947) and Queen Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1952)
• Frederick IX (1972) and Queen Ingrid of Sweden (2000)

The Empress of Russia Maria Feodorovna was also buried at Roskilde until 23 September 2006, when her coffin was returned to Russia after the agreement between Denmark and Russia stating that her remains were to be reburied in Saint Petersburg.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Roskilde domkirke

• A collection of photos of the cathedral and its royal tombs
• Map of Roskilde Cathedral

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in the Kingdom of Denmark
Denmark	Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church · Kronborg Castle · Roskilde Cathedral
Greenland	Ilulissat Icefjord

Coordinates: 55°38′33″N, 12°4′47″E