Greyfriars Cemetery, Roskilde

Cemetery in Roskilde, Denmark

Greyfriars Cemetery

Greyfriars Chapel

Details
Established| 13th century
Location|

Roskilde

Country| Denmark
Coordinates| 55°38′23″N 12°05′13″E﻿ / ﻿55.63972°N 12.08694°E﻿ / 55.63972; 12.08694
Size| 2,2 hectares
Website| www.graabrodre-kirkegaard.dk

Greyfriars Cemetery (Danish: Gråbrødre Kirkegård) is located close to the Railway Station in central Roskilde, Denmark. It has a park-like setting. The cemetery's history as a burial site can be traced back to the middle of the 13th century. The current Greyfriars Chapel dates from the middle of the 19th century and was listed in 2010 together with the wall and entrance gate.

## History

[edit]

The Franciscan friars came to Roskilde in 1237. In 1279, they inaugurated their chapel at the site where Greyfriars Chapel stands today. The friary was demolished after the Reformation, leaving only the chapel which was used as a parish church for the southern part of Roskilde. In 1625, it was partly demolished while the remainder was used as a burial chapel.[1]

The cemetery was originally mainly used by the poor while more wealthy citizens were buried inside the cathedral or in the graveyard which surrounded it. In 1805, burials inside churches were prohibited by law and not much later the graveyard surrounding the cathedral also disappeared, leaving Greyfriars as Roskilde's principal burial site.[2] In 1823, the cemetery was redesigned in the Romantic style.

## Buildings

[edit]

The chapel

The wall and entrance gate to the cemetery were built in 1853. The gate was designed by Henning Wolf, the wall by Ferdinand Meldahl. They collaborated on the design of Greyfriars Chapel which was completed in 1857 with inspiration from Venetian architecture. The chapel is an early example of the Historicist style which would dominate Danish architecture for the rest of the century. It is also notable for its decorative brickwork.[3]

## Description

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The cemetery has many fine trees. They include Weyse's Beech, a Weeping Beech located next to the entrance on Store Gråbrødrestræde, a maidenhair tree at the inspector's house and the more than 130-year-old lime tree avenue which links the Hestetorvet entrance to the chapel. The only entrance to the cemetery is through the gate from Store Gråbrødrestræde.

## Interments

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* Christoph Ernst Friedrich Weyse (1774-1842), composer
* Gustav Wied (1858–1914), author

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Fra munkekloster til kirkegård" (in Danish). Kulturstyrelsen. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
2. ^ "Kirkegårdene" (in Danish). Roskilde Domkirke. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
3. ^ "Fredningsbeslutninger 2000" (in Danish). Naturstyrelsen. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Listing

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Roskilde

Neighbourhoods
and suburbs|

* Old Town
* Sankt Jørgensbjerg
* Roskilde North (Himmelev, Trekroner, Veddelev)
* Roskilde South (Københavnsvej, Musicon, Vindinge)
* Roskilde West (Hyrdehøj, Sankt Hans, Svogerslev)

Parks and
open spaces|

* Byparken
* Folkeparken
* Greyfriars Cemetery
* Hedeland
* Roskilde Ring Park
* Protected areas (list)

Culture and
attractions|

* Land of Legends
* Museum of Tools
* Roskilde Convent
* Roskilde Jars
* Roskilde Museum
* Roskilde Palace
* Roskilde Festival
* Viking Ship Museum

Churches|

* Gundsømagle Church
* Jacob's Church
* Old Church of Our Lady
* Roskilde Cathedral
* St Ib's Church
* St Jørgensbjerg Church
* Snoldelev Church

Education and
research|

* DTU Risø
* Campus Roskilde (UCSJ)
* Campus Roskilde (Zibat)
* Roskilde Cathedral School
* Roskilde Gymnasium
* Roskilde Technical School
* Roskilde University
* Danish Meat Trade College

Other landmarks|

* Energy Tower
* Farvergården
* Kastellet
* Ledreborg
* Maglekilde
* Meyercrones Stiftelse
* Roskilde Barracks
* RO's Torv Shopping Centre
* Roskilde Gasworks
* Sankt Laurentii Church Tower

Services|

* Healthcare (Roskilde Sygehus, Sankt Hans Hospital)
* Midt- og Vestsjællands Politi
* Roskilde Fire Department
* Public utilities
* Waste management

Transport|

* Holbæk Motorway
* Roskildevej
* Northwest Line
* West Line
* Little South Line
* Roskilde Station
* Trekroner Station
* Hedebo Greenway
* Roskilde Airport

History|

* Chronicon Roskildense
* Maglekilde Paper and Textile Mill
* Roskilde Abbey
* St. Catherine's Priory
* Treaty of Roskilde
* Scylding

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