Summer holiday 2024 - Denmark

24.07.2024 - 25.07.2024

Monday 15 July ... Flight Emirates Brisbane to Dubai, Dubai to Copenhagen. Train Copenhagen airport to Aarhus.

Our journey began with the shuttle bus from our front gate at 3.30pm Monday and we arrived at Copenhagen 2pm Tuesday. Not our most enjoyable trip. We were very pleased to leave the plane when we arrived in Copenhagen. Then with another four or so hours train trip we finally arrived. 6 time zones and approximately 36 hours travelling.

Summer in DK .... 21^o C , and cloudy, and NO jetlag. . It is absolutely amazing how well melatonin works.

It was great to be back, and very happy to be with Aaron, Rikke and Olivia again, and have 'real' hugs instead of 'virtual' hugs.

We took a couple of days to relax and settle in, then on Sunday we enjoyed lunch in a lovely restaurant near Silkeborg. This is in an area called the 'Lake District' as there are a large number of beautiful lakes in the area. https://www.visitaarhus.com/areas-and-cities/lake-district/see-and-do-lake-district/lakes-lake-district

Aalekroen restaurant is situated beside one of the lakes called Julsø. In Denmark it is important to take advantage of every warm summer day as one cannot be certain when the next will come. So after lunch Rikke requested a swim at Lake Almindsø which has a lovely swimming area. Chas and I declined (for obvious reasons - water temp approx. 20^oC - and instead enjoyed a relaxed walk through the local forest. Most swimming areas are calm, and the water is clear and beautiful.

.....

Roskilde Cathedral

On Wednesday 24 July we took an overnight trip to Roskilde which is on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The drawcard was a visit to Roskilde Cathedral. It is the most important church in Denmark as it is the official royal burial church of the Danish monarchs since the 15th century. It has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. It is also still an active and living church for Roskilde residents.

Historical records from the 1000s show King Harold Bluetooth initially built a wooden church, with a brick church built on the site about 1080. The Cathedral was built about 1200 and was the first Gothic church in Scandinavia. It was originally Catholic, but since the Reformation in 1536 it has been Lutheran.

Forty kings and queens are thought to rest here, from Harold Bluetooth 987 to Frederik 9 1972 and Queen Ingrid 2000. Although there are more than 1000 graves of noblemen, clergy and other citizens in the church.

I had visited in 2003 when we travelled to Denmark for Aaron and Rikke's wedding. It was a brief visit, and I mean approximately 15 minutes, as unfortunately we had arrived just before closing. So I have always wanted a return visit.

Apart from the historical aspect of the royal burial sites and the grandeur of the tombs, the architecture of the building is beautiful, as are the Altarpiece and organ, impressive ceilings and frescos.

We chose to have a guided tour which took us on an historical journey through the times. There is even a model of Queen Margrethe 2 tomb. Enjoy this snapshot of Roskilde Cathedral.

Aarhus in the distance from the ferry, [b]and lunch in the park before our visit.
.

Looking down the nave of the church towards the Altarpiece showcasing the magnificent vaulted ceiling.

The Altarpiece. Made in Antwerp (about 1560) the motif depicts the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Made from oak covered by gold foil.

Portrait of Harald Bluetooth. Fresco from 16thC, 500 years after he had died.

The Chapel of the Three Kings King Frederik 2 (1588) and Queen Dorothea (1571)

Chapel of Christian IV. His sarcophagi is the middle one (1648) between Frederik 3 (1670) and Sophie Amalie

Statue of Christian IV

Vaulted ceiling in Chapel of Christian IV

Frederik 5's Chapel (1839)

Christian 6's sepulchral monument (1746)

King Frederik 9 (1972) and Queen Ingrid (2000), Queen Margrethe's parents. They had asked to be buried outside the cathedral's walls, in the open air, so an open mausoleum was designed just outside the Cathedral. It is made of red brick in a simple openwork pattern.

The Cathedral soaring spires. The towers are 75.5m high. The spires were added in 1635.

The Kings Door (bronze). The door depicts the twelve apostles. Tradition states that only the King or Queen can enter through the door. However, parishioners can exit the door if having attended a church service, such as baptism or funeral. In 2010, the door replaced an oak door from 1872.

Original frescos

The Cathedral was built using around 2.5 million red bricks. The brick burning technique was rediscovered around the year 1100 and sparked a revolution in building,

The Clock is from around 1500. Every quarter, the figure Kirsten Kimer strikes the little bell. Every hour St George kills the dragon; it lets out a death wail, and the figure Per Døver then strikes the big bell.

Model of Queen Margrethe 2's Sepulchral Monument. The monument has already been placed in St Bridget's Chapel but will remain covered until the Queen is laid to rest.