The Roskilde Museum covers the town's history from the Viking Age through the present, with a particular focus on the medieval period when Roskilde was the capital of Denmark and one of the most important cities in Scandinavia. The collection includes archaeological finds from the town and surrounding area, medieval artefacts, and a good account of the town's gradual decline after Copenhagen took over as the royal capital in the fifteenth century.
The museum occupies a historic building near the cathedral, and the permanent exhibition is compact enough to cover in an hour without feeling rushed. It provides useful context for understanding what the cathedral and Viking Ship Museum represent in the broader sweep of Danish history.