Photos from Roskilde

[ximeria]

Today I had a meeting in Roskilde. We had some time to kill, so we went for a whirlwind run around the Cathedral. I would have liked more time, but they were closing at 5 *pouts*

I do however bring a history lesson about the Cathedral along with photos. A selection of those I took today at the Cathedral.

At least two churches have preceded the present cathedral on the very same site. The first one was a wooden church erected by Harald Blåtand (king appx year 940-986). During the 11th century it was replaced by one or perhaps two consecutive churches made of travertine. Around 1080, however, the church was a three-aisled basilica built by bishop Svend Nordmand.

In the 1170s bishop Absalon began the erection of the brick church as a Romanesque chruch with long and wide transepts. The construction was changed by Peder Suneson (bishop 1191-1214), who was inspired by Gothic cathedral construction in France. The actual church was finished appx 1280, but since then each century has added its own extensions in various styles.

Since the Reformation all Danish kings, and almost all queens, have been buried in Roskilde Cathedral. There are however a few medieval royal tombs. Among others Queen Margrethe I (queen from 1375-1412)




tomb of Margrethe I


Altarpiece


Angel piece on top of Louise's tomb (1st spouse of King Frederik IV)


Closeup of the details of King Christian V's tomb


tomb of King Christian IV


Statue to the side of the tomb of King Frederik II and Queen Sophie

For the full set, here's the link

Comments

[nicci-mac.livejournal.com]

I really really want to come visit this place some day. Your photos are made of awesome

[ximeria.livejournal.com]

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Thanks hon. I'm trying to find interesting places to show you.

[tia-ihlj.livejournal.com]

Your photos are really amazing - and the place seems to be, too. As a German I know Roskilde mostly for the music festival. But a friend of mine had an internship at the vikingboatmuseum there and grew quite fond of the place and ts surroundings.

[ximeria.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Roskilde is quite nice. Oooh, and another German on the list *g* -- I'm glad you liked the photos *^_^*

[zooz.livejournal.com]

It's been a while since I've been in Roskilde Cathedral even though I only live like 12 km from it. Thanks for pictures. It really is a beautiful place.

[ximeria.livejournal.com]

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Thank you. I seemed to recall that you lived nearby. Yeah, the cathedral is absolutely beautiful and we were lucky to catch a run through before they closed for the day.

[cat63.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous photos - what a lovely cathedral.

Hubby went to Roskilde many years ago, but he went for a bike event so he didn't get to see anything quite so beautiful as this.

[ximeria.livejournal.com]

Oooh, was that a bike event or a BIKE event? As in bicycle which is what a bike is in Denmark or bike as in motorbike? Hehe. Glad you like the pictures -- and there are a few pretty churches like these around the country.

[callingmethere.livejournal.com]

those are some great pics and a really spectacular church ^^ *hearts churches like that*

[ximeria.livejournal.com]

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Thank you kindly. Even if the sunlight through the windows occasionally made it a bit hard to take good shots, it also meant, with it coming in as low as it did, I could get some good shots of the marble statues. They're normally the hardest to do. There's either too much or too little light.

[callingmethere.livejournal.com]

yeah, can be hard to take pics in churches, when I did in my favorite church they all came out really dark ^^;;;