Construction of Roskilde Cathedral

Roskilde Cathedral is a large brick church on the island of Zealand in Denmark and the traditional burial place of Danish monarchs. The present building, begun in the late 12th century under Bishop Absalon and largely completed in the 13th century, replaced earlier churches on the site, including one traditionally linked to King Harald Bluetooth. It is among the first major Gothic buildings in Scandinavia built of brick, a style that later spread across northern Europe. Later centuries added chapels, spires and royal tombs, so the cathedral now shows a wide range of architectural styles, and many Danish kings and queens lie buried there. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995.

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