Together with Jelling, Roskilde Cathedral is Denmark’s most important national monument. King Harald, who erected the Jelling Stone, was interred at Roskilde. At the end of the Middle Ages the Cathedral became the mausoleum for the Royal House and, since the time of Christian II, all Denmark’s monarchs have been entombed in the Cathedral, which throughout Denmark’s Christian history has been a political and spiritual centre. Roskilde Cathedral is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Roskilde Cathedral was originally built as a wooden church, as were all the churches that sprang up in Denmark in its first years of Christianity, but happily, stone churches came into favour so that visitors today can still enjoy the sight of these simple Romanesque churches everywhere in Denmark. Around 100 of them still bear colourful Romanesque murals. The island of Bornholm evolved a special style of round church, serving at once as both chapel and fortress, and preserved to this day.

In the 15th century, new styles arose, and many of Denmark’s village churches were rebuilt in the Late Gothic style with towers, porches and side chapels. In some 400 Danish churches the Gothic murals have been preserved. In 1350 the characteristic arches were added the Danish churches, and decorated with the distinctive Late Gothic murals. The church in Denmark was at its peak in the Middle Ages. Church building was booming, with monasteries appearing at central locations in the country, while the towns grew up around the monasteries, which were veritable power centres at the time.

With the Reformation in 1536 Denmark became Protestant and church estates devolved to the Crown. The monasteries disappeared and their stones were reused for the many building projects of the time, not least for all the manor houses that now sprang up everywhere in the country, many of which had private chapels. Today, only a few of the monumental monasteries remain, but Esrum Monastery in North Zealand still stands to leave a good impression of monastic life in Denmark’s Middle Ages.

Modern churches
On the other hand, there is plenty of opportunity to appreciate Denmark’s modern church architecture. Great Danish architects such as Jørn Utzon and Johan Otto von Spreckelsen have also designed churches, which today stand as monuments to Danish architecture.