Page 172 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

170  SWEDEN AREA B Y AREA

Exploring Visby 0 metres 500
Norderport
Botaniska
Within the walls, Visby is relatively small and all the sights 0 yards 500 Trädgården
are within easy walking distance. The main streets run north
to south: Strandgatan with historic sights and nightlife spots, B a l t i c S e a St Nicolai
St Hansgatan with its many churches, and Adelsgatan, the
shopping street leading from Söderport (South Gate) to ALME- Torget
Stora
DALEN
Stora Torget, the main square. North of here are quieter
residential streets and alleyways, making for a lovely stroll. Harbour
Near Norderport (North Gate) it is possible to climb up on Österport
the ramparts and admire the magnificent wall.
Town Wall
Söderport
Visby Town Centre
Street-by-Street: Visby, see pp168–9
The Hall of Picture Stones
contains an impressive array of
carved stones from the 5th–11th
centuries, some of which feature
runic inscriptions. Next door, the
Gravkammaren (Grave Room)
shows burial customs from
ancient times to the Vikings.
Several skeletons are on display,
including the 8,000-year-old
Medieval vaulted street in Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Stenkyrkamannen (Stenkyrka
Man). One of the most remark-
The Heart of the Town radiate. This is still a focal point able sights is the collection of
The medieval inner town of for visitors to Visby, despite Viking silver treasure – no fewer
Visby is shaped by its mighty the development of a modern than 700 items have been
town wall, almost 3.5 km town centre outside Österport, recovered from sites around
(2 miles) in length. Construction and there is a lively market the island.
of the wall began at the end here in summer. Several Church art is well represented.
of the 13th century. It was medieval houses surround The museum holds the
originally 5.5 m (18 ft) high and the square, including the original, Gothic Öja Madonna
designed to protect against restaurants of Gutekällaren, (Öja church in southern
attack from the sea. On the with its characteristic stepped Gotland has to make do with
inland side, the wall was gable, and Munkkällaren, with a copy). A large gallery displays
surrounded by a deep moat. its deep vaulted cellars and medieval furniture, as well as
Within the ramparts, narrow inner courtyard. collections from later periods.
cobbled streets are lined with The ruins of the church of Sta The museum is close to
tightly packed houses, wealthy Karin (St Catherine), dating from Fenomenalen, a hands-on
merchants’ homes and the ruins the 1230s, form a dramatic science centre.
of historic churches. UNESCO backdrop on the southern side
described the town as the “best of Stora Torget. In the shadow of
fortified commercial city in the ruins is Rosengård, a café
northern Europe” and declared where generations have ordered
it a World Heritage Site in 1995. coffee and delicious pastries.
Just outside the wall is
Almedalen, the former site of E Gotlands Museum
the Hanseatic harbour. Today Strandgatan 14. Tel 0498-29 27 00.
the area is a park. South of Open May–Sep: daily; Oct–Apr: Tue–
Almedalen is Visby marina, Sun. & 8 - = 7
which throngs with boats, ∑ gotlandsmuseum.se
especially during Medieval Gotland’s long history going
Week in August. back to prehistoric times has
made this collection one of
P Around Stora Torget Sweden’s richest regional
At the heart of Visby lies Stora museums. It is housed in a
Torget (Big Square) from which former royal distillery, built Picture stones from the 5th–11th centuries
the roads to the town gates in the 1770s. in Gotlands Museum
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p286 and p297

170-171_EW_Sweden.indd 170 11/07/16 11:43 am