Things to see and do Roskilde

Built on the edge of the fjord, this concrete-and-glass museum is designed as a showcase for the stars of the show: five great millennia-old boats discovered in the late 1950s. These boats had been deliberately sunk around the year 1000 to block an invasion. In 1962, water was pumped from around the wrecks to recover 100,000 numbered and meticulously readjusted fragments. A fabulous puzzle! The tour begins with the 14-minute film "Cinq Bateaux Vikings de Skuldelev", in French.

Among the five boats found at the bottom of the fjord, one measured almost 30 m! It was launched in 2004, and like the original in 1042, made the crossing to Dublin with some 60 rowers on board in 2005. The other four replicas are docked in the harbour of this open-air museum. During construction, nine other boats were found: seven from the Middle Ages, two from the Viking period.

The shipyard is located on the lake next to the museum. The public is welcome to come and watch the workers at work. Traditional boat building is clapboarded. The shipyard specializes in restoring and rebuilding prehistoric boats to life-size using period methods. But new boats are also built on the basis of ancient traditions. Orders come from private individuals and other maritime museums.