Description
Visby, city and capital of the län (county) of Gotland, southeastern Sweden. It lies on the northwest coast of the island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea. Because of its remarkably well-preserved medieval ramparts and buildings, Visby, “the city of roses and ruins,” was designated a protected monument in 1810 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.
The “old town” section of Visby still displays its medieval heritage. It is surrounded by a 13th-century wall, 2.2 miles (3.6 km) long, that reaches heights of more than 30 feet (9 metres). Several gates and 27 defensive towers are intact. In addition, some 200 warehouses (many of which are now private homes) remain from the 13th and 14th centuries, along with a few lofty merchants’ houses. The cathedral of St. Mary was built from 1190 to 1225 and later expanded and remodeled. Its three towers—one square and two octagonal—frame a nave that also served the temporal needs of the town: a warehouse once occupied its two upper stories.