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Roskilde Cathedral

Roskilde Cathedral
Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark
View from the south
Basic information
Location Roskilde, Denmark
Geographic coordinates 55°38′34″N 12°4′48″E / 55.64278°N 12.08000°E / 55.64278; 12.08000Coordinates: 55°38′34″N 12°4′48″E / 55.64278°N 12.08000°E / 55.64278; 12.08000
Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Cathedral of Diocese of Roskilde
Heritage designation 1995
Leadership Bishop Peter Fischer-Møller
Website www.roskildedomkirke.dk
Architectural description
Architect(s) Absalon, Peder Sunesen
Architectural type Church
Architectural style French Gothic, Dutch Renaissance, Neoclassicism, Byzantine Revival, Modernist
Groundbreaking ca. 1170
Completed 1985
Specifications
Direction of façade W
Length 86 metres (282 ft)
Width 27 metres (89 ft)
Height (max) 75.7 metres (248 ft)
Spire(s) 3
Spire height 75.7 metres (248 ft)
Official name: Roskilde Cathedral
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iv
Designated 1995
Reference no. 695
State Party Denmark
Region Europe and North America
Session 19th

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

The cathedral has been the main burial site for Danish monarchs since the 15th century. As such, it has been significantly extended and altered over the centuries to accommodate a considerable number of burial chapels. Following the Danish Reformation in 1536, the bishop's residence was moved to Copenhagen while the title was changed to Bishop of Zealand. Coronations normally took place in Copenhagen's Church of Our Lady or in the chapel of Frederiksborg Palace.

The cathedral is a major tourist attraction, bringing in over 125,000 visitors annually. Since 1995, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A working church, it also hosts concerts throughout the year.


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