Maglekilde is the most powerful of several natural springs that rise in and around Roskilde's historic centre. In the Middle Ages these springs gave the town a reputation for sacred water — the name Roskilde itself may derive from the springs (Hroar's Spring or Spring of the Fountain). Pilgrims visited the area throughout the medieval period, and the springs fed a system of channels and pools that supplied the town with drinking water.
Today Maglekilde flows in a small park not far from the town centre. The spring is not spectacular — it wells up quietly among some old trees — but for anyone interested in the layers of Roskilde's history it's a worthwhile few minutes. The surrounding park is pleasant for a rest between the cathedral and the waterfront.