Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE ISLAND OF CHURCHES
Gotland boasts the highest concentration of medieval churches in northern Europe. A
God-pleasing 92 churches inhabit villages outside Visby; more than 70 still harbour medi-
eval frescoes and a few also contain extremely rare medieval stained glass. Visby alone
has a dozen church ruins and a fairy-tale cathedral.
A church was built in most villages between the early 12th century and the mid-14th
century, Gotland's golden age of trading. After 1350, war and struggle saw the money run
out and the tradition end. Ironically, it was the lack of funds that helped keep the island in
an ecclesiastical time warp: the old churches weren't demolished, and new ones weren't
constructed until 1960. Each church is still in use, and the posse of medieval villages still
exist as entities.
Most churches are open 9am to 6pm daily from mid-May to late August. Some
churches have the old key in the door even before 15 May, or sometimes the key is hidden
above the door. The Churches in the Diocese of Visbyis an English-language brochure
available from tourist offices containing a map of the churches throughout the island, his-
torical background and a thoughtprovoking quote from Bishop Sven-Bernhard Fast that
begins: 'You can hear 700 years of silence as you sit in a pew beneath the vault of this
early medieval church…'
Visby
Pop 22,593
The medieval port town of Visby alone warrants a trip to Gotland. Within its sturdy city
walls await twisting cobbled streets, fairy-tale wooden cottages, evocative church ruins
and steep hills with impromptu Baltic views. The wining and dining options are similarly
superb, while the leafy oasis of lush botanical gardens offers a tranquil respite, especially
in high season.
A Unesco World Heritage Site, Visby swarms with holidaymakers from mid-June to
mid-August and cars are banned in the old town. For many, the highlight of the season is
the costumes, performances, crafts, markets and re-enactments of
Medeltidsveckan
(Me-
dieval Week;
www.medeltidsveckan.com
;
Aug)
, held during the first or second week of
