Page 173 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

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Visby’s medieval town wall, approximately 3.5 km (2 miles) long and up to 5.5 m (18 ft) high
T Ruins of St Nicolai designed in this way to allow To reach the garden, follow
St Nicolaigatan. Tel Visby Tourist Office, patients from the hospital to the promenade along the
0498-20 17 00. reach the church via a passage shore from the harbour and
The ruins of St Nicolai are all from the upper floor. Today go through Kärleksporten
that remains of a Dominican the ruins are used for cultural (Gate of Love) in the northwest
monastery founded in Visby in events and are open to visitors corner of the town wall.
1228. The Black Friars expanded during the summer. Inside the gate, the lush
it and built a Gothic cathedral park offers a spice-scented
which they dedicated to the O Botaniska Trädgården herb garden and a pretty rose
patron saint of sailors and Visby. Tel 0498-26 94 77. garden (at its peak Jul–Aug).
merchants, St Nicholas. When Open 24 hrs daily. There are over 16,000 species
the people of Lübeck stormed Gotland’s Botanical Garden including many plants and
Visby in 1525 much of the was founded in 1856 by the trees that are exotic to the
cathedral was destroyed. Badande Wännerna (Society Nordic countries, such as
Between 1929 and 1990 a of the Bathing Friends), a walnut, mulberry and ginkgo.
pageant, Petrus de Dacia, was gentlemen’s club formed in In its midst stand the ivy-clad
performed here every summer. 1814 to work for the benefit ruins of St Olof’s church and
This Gotlander was a famous of the public. The society also there is a water-lily pond and
mystic and author, and prior of established Gotland’s first a small pavilion making an
the Dominican monastery at school and set up its first bank. ideal resting place.
the end of the 13th century.
Today, musical and theatrical Visby’s Early History
events are staged in the ruins
and the Gotland Chamber Archaeological finds, including Roman, Arabic and Russian coins,
Music Festival is usually held show that Gotland had a lively foreign trade already in Viking times.
here each summer. The At the end of the 12th century, trade with Germany took off and the
audience sit protected from Hanseatic League was formed – a mercantile and political association
wind and weather by the between German merchants and towns around the North Sea and
remaining part of the roof. the Baltic. The League was centred on Visby and the town enjoyed a
boom in the 13th century with people coming from all around to
settle here. Towards the end of the century a trading-political power
T Ruins of Helge And
Helge Ands Plan. n Gotlands struggle on Gotland led to
Museum, 0498-29 27 00. internal strife and the gradual
decline of Visby. Poor harvests
Helgeandstiftelserna was and the Black Death contributed
a religious order founded to the decline, as did the
during the early 13th century introduction of large ships
to take care of the poor and capable of travelling longer
the sick. The ruin of Helge distances. In 1361 Visby was
And (Church of the Holy captured by Valdemar Atterdag
Spirit) is one of Visby’s most and Gotland succumbed to
remarkable church ruins and Danish rule. Then in 1525
dates from this period. The Visby was plundered by its
octagonal building has two rival Hanseatic town, Lübeck,
floors opening onto a choir. and buildings were destroyed
Two large staircases lead or abandoned. Valdemar Atterdag pillaging Visby in 1361
up to the first floor. It was

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