Viking Ship Museum (Vikingeskibsmuseet)

Between 1957 and 1962 five wrecks of Viking ships from 11th century had been excavated from the fjord near Skuldelev. Few years later a showcase was built around the wrecks at the end of Roskilde fjord. Today those ships can be seen in the Viking Ship Hall, and additional museum buildings have been raised on Museum Island.

The museum with numerous exhibitions on Viking times, their life and art of mastering the seas became, next to the cathedral, a mayor attraction of Roskilde.
Indeed, there is much to see and to do there. Continuously since it opened in 1969, the museum has been collecting traditional Nordic boat types, and their number reached today 39 vessels. At the museum’s boatyard visitors can watch craftsmen building full-size replicas of the prehistoric boats; at the Archaeological Workshop they can learn how the finds are conserved and described. During summer both children and adults can enjoy various activities at Tunet, including oaring or trying to set the sail on the old boat.

In 2000 The Museum started also a big project: to build a true copy of Viking ocean-going, 30 metres long trading vessel, the Skuldelev2, which is one of the five long ships found on the bottom of the Roskilde fjord. The ship, christened Sea Stallion of Glendalough (Havhingsten fra Glendalough), was built originally in Dublin in 1042. This reconstructed Skuldelev2, with 65-men crew onboard, sailed back to Dublin in June 2007.
The museum is situated approx. 20 min. on foot from railway station; otherwise you can take a branch line train or bus (216 or 607) from there.  For those travelling by car, there is a spacious free car park by the Museum Island.