Gotland - Sweden's largest island

Gotland is Sweden's largest island and Visby its capital, is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Gotland is unique as it is different from mainland Sweden. It has different flora and the very fertile soil permits vegetation like kiwis, mulberries and almonds to grow. Though we personally didn't see any kiwi fruit trees, we saw loads of apple trees.

"Visby is an outstanding example of a Northern European walled Hanseatic town which has in a unique way preserved its townscape and its extremely valuable buildings, which in form and function clearly reflect this significant human settlement." From the grounds cited by the World Heritage Committee for inclusion in the World Heritage list.

The city is enclosed by a ring wall which is approximately 3.5 km in length. The wall is built of limestone, has three main entrances and over 50 towers, and is surrounded by moats. It was built not only to protect the city from its enemies but also to wall it off from the surrounding countryside. Within the walls are old stone buildings, churches and streets dating back to hundreds of years.

Throughout the ages, merchants, industrialists, Vikings, kings and members of the nobility have visited this medieval city. Membership of the Hanseatic League made Visby enormously wealthy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, Visby became one of the foremost cities of the Baltic area.

The townscape is dominated by magnificent buildings of stone. Almost 200 stone buildings dating from the Middle Ages have been completely or partly preserved. At several places in the city, trading houses, with their impressive stepped gables, vaulted cellars and gothic-inspired façades, stand to this day. 

We visited the Lummelunda Cave which is famous for its stalactites, created by drops of water falling from cold underground nooks and crannies, and runs for several kilometres right into the rock.

Visby is so pretty that it now specialises as a wedding destination. Whilst we were having tea amongst the ruins of St. Clemens, we saw a bridal couple walk in to take a few pictures.

We also visited Slite which is home to Cementa, one of the world’s largest cement works and one of the biggest employers on this part of the island. Here there are plenty of shops, a port, a holiday village and good bathing just a stone’s throw from the centre.

Gotland and Visby in particular, makes for a very interesting weekend trip or even a summer holiday getaway.

The picturesque town of Visby

The sheep is the mascot of Gotland.

We saw so many of these statues all over the place.

The limestone formations in the Lummelunda Cave

The botanical garden

The ruins of St Clemens

A tribute to Olof Palme

The Cathedral

An impressive facade which dominates the landscape

Are these post boxes or not? Am confused.

The drawbridge at the Northern wall of the gate.

The ancient stone wall that rings the city

View from the highest point in Visby

We caught the sunrise at the harbour

View of the port from the top of Cementa at Slite

Cementa

Beautiful flowers at the organic restaurant that we had lunch at.