St. Jørgensbjerg Church

St. Jørgensbjerg church is the oldest preserved stone building in Denmark. Built of travertine circa 1100, it may have been inspired by the Roskilde's cathedral predecessor, a travertine church from 1080, built by Bishop Svend Nordmand. The bricked-up north door of the church may also stem from its predecessor from circa 1040, which was investigated in excavations undertaken in 1953-54. If it does, the north door is Denmark's oldest piece of medieval architecture.

The slender billets at the corners and in the middle of the nave are quite unique. Such billets are only found in wooden churches, hence its name 'a fossilized wooden church'. There are many interesting details in the interior of the church. A model of a medieval merchant vessel, a so-called 'kogge', has been engraved in the wall.

References:

• Visit Roskilde

Address

Kirkegade 26A, Roskilde, Denmark

Details

Founded: c. 1100
Category: Religious sites in Denmark
Historical period: The First Kingdom (Denmark)