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Town Walls

The most notable feature of Visby is the 3.5km/2mi long circuit of town walls, built of limestone in the latter part of the 13th century and strengthened about 1300. At regular intervals round the walls are 44 towers standing between 15 and 20m (50 and 60ft) high. At two points there are large breaches in the walls - one on the east side, thought to have been caused by a Swedish attack in 1524, and the other on the west, the result of an attack by the Lübeckers a year later. On the seaward side is the Powder Tower (Kruttornet), probably built in the 11th century and incorporated in the later walls. Near the north end is the Maiden's Tower (Jungfrutornet), in which legend has it that the daughter of a Visby goldsmith was walled up alive for betraying the town to the Danes out of love for the Danish king Valdemar Atterdag. The adjoining corner tower is known as the Silver Cap (Silverhättan). From here the walls run east to the line of cliffs, turn south at the town's main gate, the Norderport, follow the edge of the cliffs to the Söderport (South Gate) and finally turn west to end at the ruins of Visborg Castle, overlooking the harbor.

St Nicholas's Church

From Visby's Church of the Holy Ghost, a side street goes past the remains of the little 15th century chapel of St Gertrude to the ruins of St Nicholas's Church, the largest in Visby, in which the mystery play "Petrus de Dacia" is performed. The church, which originally belonged to a Dominican monastery, was begun about 1230 and was destroyed by the Lübeckers in 1525. It has a beautiful rose window in the gable.

Galgenberg Walk

There is a very attractive walk (30 minutes) from the Norderport, past the ruins of the 13th century church of St Göran, which belonged to a leper hospital, to the Galgenberg (Gallows Hill), a medieval place of execution with three 6m/20ft high stone pillars, from which there are fine views of the town and the sea. Below the north side of the hill is the Trojaborg, a stone maze which was probably a very ancient cult site; its name recalls the old Roman "game of Troy".

Hogklint

4km/2.5mi southwest of Visby is the Villa Villekulla, which featured in the films of Astrid Lindgren's "Pippi Longstocking" stories; nearby is a children's playground. 4km/2.5mi beyond this rises the Högklint, a rugged crag (45m/148ft) from the top of which there are wide views of the sea and of Visby. Lower down are a limestone spur, Getsvältan, and a cave. Nearby is the Villa Fridhem, which belonged to Prince Oskar Bernadotte and is now a boarding school, with a large park.

Museum of Antiquities

From Donnersplatsen Strandgatan leads to the Museum of Antiquities (Golands Fornsal), with a fine collection of Viking and medieval material, including tombstones and runic stones, arms and armor, furniture and religious art. Adjoining the museum is the Liljehornska Hus.

From here Packhusplan runs north to the Clematishus, near which is the Old Pharmacy (Gamla Apoteket), a 13th century house with a stepped gable (exhibition of arts and crafts).

April - October

July - August -> 21(°C) - Summer
January - February -> 0(°C) - Spring

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