Visby () is an
urban area in Sweden and the seat of
Gotland Municipality
Region Gotland, officially Gotlands kommun ( en, Gotland Municipality), is a municipality that covers the entire island of Gotland in Sweden. The city of Visby is the municipality's seat. Gotland Municipality is the 39th most populous municipali ...
in
Gotland County
Gotland County ( sv, Gotlands län) is a county or ''län'' of Sweden. Gotland is located in the Baltic Sea to the east of Öland, and is the largest of Sweden's islands. Counties are usually sub-divided into municipalities, but Gotland County ...
on the island of
Gotland with 24,330 inhabitants .
Visby is also the episcopal see for the
Diocese of Visby
The Diocese of Visby ( sv, Visby stift) is a division of the Church of Sweden consisting of the island of Gotland. Its seat is Visby Cathedral located in the largest town on Gotland, Visby.
The Bishop of Visby is also responsible for the episc ...
. The
Hanseatic
The Hanseatic League (; gml, Hanse, , ; german: label=German language, Modern German, Deutsche Hanse) was a Middle Ages, medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central Europe, Central and Norther ...
city of Visby is arguably the best-preserved
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
city in
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...
, and, since 1995, it has been on the
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
list. Among the most notable historical remains are the long
town wall
A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or earthworks to extensive military fortifications with towers, bastions and gates ...
that encircles the town center, and a
number of church ruins. The decline as a Hanseatic city in the Late Middle Ages was the cause why many stone houses were preserved in their original medieval style.
Visby is a popular vacation destination for Scandinavians during the summer and receives thousands of tourists every year. It is by far the most populous Swedish locality outside the Swedish mainland. The
Gotland University is in Visby, and, since 1July 2013, it is a department of
Uppsala University
Uppsala University ( sv, Uppsala universitet) is a public university, public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the List of universities in Sweden, oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in opera ...
under the name Uppsala University–Campus Gotland. Visby is also the sole county seat in Sweden accessible from the mainland only by boat and air.
Important annual events held in Visby include the annual political forum
Almedalen Week.
Etymology
The name "Visby" comes from the
Old Norse
Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...
''Vis'', (
genitive singular of ''Vi'') meaning "(pagan) place of sacrifices", and ''by'', meaning "village". In the
Gutasaga
Gutasaga (''Gutasagan'') is a saga regarding the history of Gotland before its Christianization. It was recorded in the 13th century and survives in only a single manuscript, the Codex Holm. B 64, dating to , kept at the National Library of Sweden ...
n (mid 14th century) the place is referred to as just ''Wi'' meaning "holy place, place of worship".
Visby is sometimes called "The City of Roses" or "The City of Ruins".
History
The earliest history of Visby is uncertain, but it is known to have been a centre of merchandise around 900 AD. It was inhabited as early as the
Stone Age
The Stone Age was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 4,000 BC and 2,000 BC, with t ...
, probably because of the access to fresh water and a
natural harbour
A harbor (American English), harbour (British English; see spelling differences), or haven is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is a ...
.
In the 12th century,
Visby Cathedral
Visby Cathedral ( sv, Visby domkyrka), formally Visby Saint Mary's Cathedral (''Visby S:ta Maria domkyrka'') is a cathedral within the Church of Sweden, seat of the Bishop of Visby. It lies in the centre of Visby, the main town on the Swedish ...
, dedicated to
Saint Mary, was constructed. It was reshaped in the 13th century to its current appearance, and was officially opened in 1225, by the bishop of the Swedish city of
Linköping
Linköping () is a city in southern Sweden, with around 105,000 inhabitants as of 2021. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Church ...
(''in regional map''). Several other churches were also constructed in the ensuing centuries. The city flourished, thanks to the German
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League (; gml, Hanse, , ; german: label=Modern German, Deutsche Hanse) was a medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central and Northern Europe. Growing from a few North German to ...
.
![Valdemar Atterdag brandskattar Visby (1882)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Valdemar_Atterdag_brandskattar_Visby_%281882%29.jpg)
The work on the
ring wall
A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two fortified towers or bastions of a castle, fortress, or town.
Ancient fortifications
Evidence for curtain walls or a series of walls surrounding a town or fortress can be found in the historic ...
was likely begun in the 12th century. Around 1300, it was rebuilt to reach its current height, acquiring the characteristic towers, although some towers were not constructed until the 15th century. The
ringwall
A circular rampart (German: ''Ringwall'') is an embankment built in the shape of a circle that was used as part of the defences for a military fortification, hill fort or refuge, or was built for religious purposes or as a place of gathering.
The ...
is still largely intact.
In the first half of the fourteenth century (1300–1350) Visby was at the height of its wealth and influence, and it was during this time that
Laws of Wisbuy
The Wisbuy Sea Law, also known as the Gotland Sea Law, was a compilation of medieval maritime laws created in the 1400s. These laws themselves originated from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The Wisbuy Sea Law did not originate in Wi ...
, a set of maritime laws that had broad influence in the Baltic and beyond, were probably promulgated.
In 1361, Gotland was
conquered by
Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV Atterdag (the epithet meaning "Return of the Day"), or Waldemar (132024 October 1375) was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375. He is mostly known for his reunion of Denmark after the bankruptcy and mortgaging of the country to finance ...
. 1,800 Gotlanders were killed in battle in front of the city. Valdemar tore down part of the wall, set up three huge beer barrels and threatened to turn his men loose to pillage the town unless they were filled with silver and gold. The Visby city fathers fulfilled the demand, with churches stripped of their valuables. Valdemar added "King of Gotland" to his title list. His treatment of Visby, a member of the Hanseatic League, precipitated that League into war with Denmark; however, though Valdemar was forced into various concessions, he retained Visby as a Danish city.
In 1391, 1394 and 1398, it was taken and plundered by the
Victual Brothers
, native_name_lang =
, named_after = french: vitailleurs (provisioners, Hundred Years' War)
, image = Vitalienbrueder, Wandmalerei in d, Kirche zu Bunge auf Gotland, gemalt ca. 1405.JPG
, image_size = 250px ...
, pirates who sailed the
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...
. An invading army of
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians o ...
conquered Gotland in 1398, destroyed Visby and expelled the Victual Brothers.
In 1409, Grand Master
Ulrich von Jungingen
Ulrich von Jungingen (1360 – 15 July 1410) was the 26th Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights, Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1407 to 1410. His policy of confrontation with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Pol ...
of the Teutonic Knights guaranteed peace with the
Kalmar Union of
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...
by selling the island of Gotland to Queen
Margaret of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
In 1411, the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish King
Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania (1381 or 1382 – 24 September 1459) was the ruler of the Kalmar Union from 1396 until 1439, succeeding his grandaunt, Queen Margaret I. He is known as Eric III as King of Norway (1389–1442), Eric VII as King of Denmark (1 ...
had the castle of
Visborg
Visborg ( Wisborg) refers to a fortress in the town of Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland. Successive fortresses were built in Visby (''borg'' means fortress or castle), though Visborg is usually in reference to the castle built here by King ...
constructed, and settled himself there for twelve years, during which the city virtually became a pirates' nest, and the commerce halted. As of 1470, the Hanseatic League rescinded Visby's status as a Hanseatic town.
In 1525, the final blow came. In the Danish throne quarrel,
Lübeck
Lübeck (; Low German also ), officially the Hanseatic City of Lübeck (german: Hansestadt Lübeck), is a city in Northern Germany. With around 217,000 inhabitants, Lübeck is the second-largest city on the German Baltic coast and in the stat ...
, a
Free City of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
and a leading member of the Hanseatic League, supported
Frederick I Frederick I may refer to:
* Frederick of Utrecht or Frederick I (815/16–834/38), Bishop of Utrecht.
* Frederick I, Duke of Upper Lorraine (942–978)
* Frederick I, Duke of Swabia (1050–1105)
* Frederick I, Count of Zoll ...
, while
Søren Norby
Søren Norby, selfstyled as Severin Norbi (died 1530) was a Danish leading naval officer in the fleets of Danish kings Hans I and Christian II. He commandeered the greatest ship of the Danish fleet in naval wars against Sweden and Lübeck. Norby ...
the Danish governor of Gotland fought for
Christian II
Christian II (1 July 1481 – 25 January 1559) was a Scandinavian monarch under the Kalmar Union who reigned as King of Denmark and Norway, from 1513 until 1523, and Sweden from 1520 until 1521. From 1513 to 1523, he was concurrently Duke ...
, even after Christian's official resignation in 1523. While Norby fought a military action in Sweden, the Lübeckers successfully attacked Visby and set the city on fire from four sites. But unlike widespread belief, several churches survived at first. The churches of St. James (which already had been closed before), St. Nicholas and St. Gertrude were sacked by Lübeck's army. With the reformation, all churches except St. John, which became the city parish, were closed. In 1528, the citizens of Visby sacked the church of the Holy Trinity, or the church of Our Lord ( sv, Drottens kyrka) in revenge for the plundering of their town. In 1533–34, the new Danish governor, , demolished St. John's and St. Peter's churches to improve the defence of his castle Visborgs slott.
St. Mary's Cathedral remained the last functional church and became the new city parish.
Gotland was again taken into Sweden's possession in 1645, by the
Treaty of Brömsebro, after 300 years of Danish rule.
The city developed slowly as things were left as they were. In the mid 18th century,
after a plague had reduced Visby's population, some attempts were made by Swedish government officials to improve living standards, but little was accomplished. Not until the early 19th century did Visby once again attract commerce and a harbour industry. At the same time – 1808 –
Gotland was conquered by Russia, but was peacefully taken back by the Swedes after only a couple of months.
Geography
![Övre Finngränd 7 Sta Maria 29 Visby Gotland](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/%C3%96vre_Finngr%C3%A4nd_7_Sta_Maria_29_Visby_Gotland.jpg)
Visby is the name of the locality, or town, as well as the name of the larger area surrounding it, Visby
socken
Socken is the name used for a part of a county in Sweden. In Denmark similar areas are known as ''sogn'', in Norway ''sokn'' or ''sogn'' and in Finland ''pitäjä'' ''(socken)''. A socken is a country-side area that was formed around a church, ...
. In 1936, the socken was incorporated within the newly formed Visby stad (Visby city), the only locality with historical
city status City status is a symbolic and legal designation given by a national or subnational government. A municipality may receive city status because it already has the qualities of a city, or because it has some special purpose.
Historically, city status ...
on Gotland. Visby socken comprises the same area as the
administrative
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, administ ...
Visby District, established on 1January 2016. ,
Visby Cathedral
Visby Cathedral ( sv, Visby domkyrka), formally Visby Saint Mary's Cathedral (''Visby S:ta Maria domkyrka'') is a cathedral within the Church of Sweden, seat of the Bishop of Visby. It lies in the centre of Visby, the main town on the Swedish ...
,
Visborg Church and
Terra Nova Church in Visby belong to Visby Cathedral
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or m ...
(''Visby Domkyrkoförsamling''). Visby is also the only municipality seat of Sweden that is accessible from the mainland only by boat and air traffic.
Visby is situated on the central west coast of Gotland, on the rather steep slopes of
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
cliffs surrounding the first natural harbor. The town has evolved around the
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
harbor that now constitutes the
Almedalen
Almedalen (in literal English translation: ''The Elm Valley'') is a park in the Swedish city of Visby on the island of Gotland. It is well known in Sweden as the central site of the annual Almedalen Week.
In medieval times the area, just outsid ...
park. Long streets run parallel with the old shoreline with shorter alleys at a straight angle from these, lead from the harbor and up the slope up to the eastern higher part of town known as ''Klinten''.
The old, original part of Visby is more or less enclosed by the city wall to the north, east and south, with the old harbor and the Baltic Sea in the west. The more modern parts of the town expand mostly east and inland from the wall. Along the shore south of the wall is the modern harbor with its ferry terminals and further south is a green recreational area called Södra Hällarna. Just inside the north part of the wall as well as along the north coast outside the wall, are several beaches: Kallbadhuset, Norderstrand, Snäckgärdsbaden (or simply Snäck) and
Gustavsvik
Gustavsvik is a major recreational facility in the town of Örebro which was built in 1963 and it includes the largest water park in Northern Europe. Gustavsvik is one of Sweden’s most visited tourist and leisure facilities. In 2012, it had arou ...
.
Visby and
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju ' ...
are the only two North-European towns in which the city's medieval
grid plan has been fully preserved into present day.
One of the
asteroids in the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, located roughly between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies, of many sizes, but much smaller than planets, c ...
,
6102 Visby, is
named after this place.
Climate
According to the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
, Visby has an
oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...
(Cfb). This renders the summers cooler and the winters milder than in most of mainland Sweden. However, in spite of its maritime location the city's climate is very much influenced by continental airflows. Precipitation amounts are quite moderate, especially for an oceanic climate, and relatively consistent throughout the year. Visby is one of the sunniest towns in
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
and in the
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; literal translation, lit. 'the North') are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It includes the sovereign states of Denmar ...
, especially so during summer.
Infrastructure
Transport
![Rälsbusståg vid Visby station 1960](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/R%C3%A4lsbusst%C3%A5g_vid_Visby_station_1960.jpg)
Visby is linked to the mainland of Sweden by ferry and by plane. Ferries arrive from both
Oskarshamn
Oskarshamn is a coastal city and the seat of Oskarshamn Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 17,258 inhabitants in 2010.
History
Etymology
Döderhultsvik was the original name before a town charter was granted in 1856. The name was then chang ...
in
Småland
Småland () is a historical province () in southern Sweden.
Småland borders Blekinge, Scania, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means ''Small Lands''. The Latinized fo ...
and
Nynäshamn
Nynäshamn is a locality and the seat of Nynäshamn Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 13,510 inhabitants in 2010.
While interest in the area as a potentially useful port grew from the mid 19th Century, it was only with the opening of the ...
, near
Stockholm
Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...
, each taking about three hours. The ferries are run by
Destination Gotland
Destination Gotland is a Swedish ferry-line that runs state-subsidised domestic ferries from Nynäshamn and Oskarshamn to Visby on the island of Gotland. It is a wholly owned daughter company of Rederi AB Gotland. The fleet consists of four hig ...
and subsidized by the Swedish government.
Destination Gotland is the only ferry operator – in summer 2016, independent shipping company Gotlandsbåten ran ferries to
Västervik
Västervik is a city and the seat of Västervik Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden, with 36,747 inhabitants in 2021. Västervik is one of three coastal towns with a notable population size in the province of Småland.
Climate
Västervik h ...
and Nynäshamn,
but this service was unprofitable and was not repeated in 2017.
Visby Airport
Visby Airport , is located about north of Visby, Gotland, Sweden.
Visby airport is Gotland's only commercial airport and the 12th largest airport in Sweden. The airport had 463,616 passengers in 2016. The traffic has a large seasonal variation ...
is located about north of the city and offers connections to the Swedish mainland.
With 467,857 passengers in 2018, it is the 9th largest airport in Sweden. Daily flights to
Stockholm Arlanda Airport
Stockholm Arlanda Airport is an international airport located in the Sigtuna Municipality of Sweden, near the town of Märsta, north of Stockholm and nearly south-east of Uppsala. The airport is located within Stockholm County and the provi ...
is a common way to reach or depart from the island.
There are also city buses in Visby as well as buses to other parts of Gotland.
Visby gave its name to the 1968 Visby Amendments, which were an amendment of the Hague Rules of
shipping law
Admiralty law or maritime law is a body of law that governs nautical issues and private maritime disputes. Admiralty law consists of both domestic law on maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between priva ...
, leading to the
Hague–Visby Rules
The Hague–Visby Rules is a set of international rules for the international carriage of goods by sea. They are a slightly updated version of the original Hague Rules which were drafted in Brussels in 1924.
The premise of the Hague–Visby ...
.
Visby was previously served by two railway lines, the which ran from Lärbro in the north, to Burgsvik in the south, via Visby harbour and the , south to Visborgsslätt and Västerhejde. The first line, from Visby to Hemse was started in 1878, under the auspices of the Gotland Railway. Passenger transport was discontinued in September 1960. Freight traffic on the Slakteriet – Visby port route ran until May 1962. The last sections of the port track in Visby were removed in March 1964. Visby railway station, just south of the Söderport on Söderväg, was completed in 1878 and is one of the few remaining vestiges of the railway in Visby.
Utilities
Near Visby, there is the
static inverter plant
An HVDC converter station (or simply converter station) is a specialised type of substation which forms the terminal equipment for a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line.Arrillaga, Jos; High Voltage Direct Current Transmission, se ...
for the first HVDC interconnection of a windpark (
HVDC Visby–Näs
The HVDC Visby–Näs is a bipolar HVDC electric power transmission system between Visby and a wind power centre near Näs on Gotland, Sweden. The project went into service in 1999. The system operates at 80 kV with a maximum power of 50 megawatts ...
).
Sights and events
![Visby-Almedalen (2005)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Visby-Almedalen_%282005%29.jpg)
During the first week of July, Visby is the scene of the
Almedalen Week, an important forum for everyone involved in
Swedish politics. During the week, representatives from the major political parties in Sweden take turns giving speeches in the Almedalen park.
In August, the
tourist
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...
season is at its peak. During week 32, from Sunday to Sunday, the annual
Medieval Week on Gotland
The Battle of Visby was fought in 1361 near the town of Visby on the island of Gotland, between the forces of the Danish king and the Gutnish country yeomen. The Danish force was victorious.
Background
On 22July 1361, King Valdemar IV of Denmar ...
is held. During this week, regularly dressed tourists are outnumbered by people that are dressed in Medieval costumes. The festival started in 1984 and comprises a variety of events: music, jesters, theatre, a medieval market, jousting tournaments, and much more.
The headquarter of the
World Ecological Forum is in Visby.
Culture and the arts
Visby is home to Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators and Visby International Centre for Composers.
In popular culture
Swedish author
Mari Jungstedt has set nine detective novels on the island of Gotland. The principal character, DS Anders Knutas, is based at police headquarters in Visby, and there are numerous descriptive passages of the city and the island.
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widel ...
noted that Visby is the main visual inspiration for the town in ''
Kiki's Delivery Service
is a 1989 Japanese Anime, animated fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, adapted from the Kiki's Delivery Service (novel), 1985 novel by Eiko Kadono. It was animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten, Yamato Transpor ...
'', with elements of other locations such as
Stockholm
Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...
also blended in.
In 1971
Ingmar Bergman filmed ''
The Touch'' (1971) (''Beröringen'') with Bibi Andersson, Max von Sydow and Elliott Gould in Visby.
Visby is referenced in the
Yorushika song, Rain With Cappuccino.
Sports
The following sports clubs are located in Visby:
*
Endre IF (floorball)
*
Visby Ladies (women's basketball)
*
Visby IBK
Visby () is an urban areas in Sweden, urban area in Sweden and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County on the island of Gotland with 24,330 inhabitants . Visby is also the episcopal see for the Diocese of Visby. The Hanseatic League, ...
(floorball)
*
Visby/Roma HK
Visby/Roma HK is a Swedish hockey club located in Visby on Gotland. The club currently plays in group East of Hockeyettan
Hockeyettan is the third tier of ice hockey in Sweden. As of the 2015–16 season, the league consists of 46 teams divi ...
(ice hockey)
*
FC Gute (football)
*
IFK Visby (football)
*
Visby AIK
Visby AIK is a Swedish football club located in Visby on the island of Gotland.
Background
Visby AIK currently plays in Division 4 Gotland, sometimes called "Gotlandsfyran", which is the sixth tier of Swedish football. They play their home match ...
(football)
*
Visby Klätterklubb
Visby () is an urban area in Sweden and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County on the island of Gotland with 24,330 inhabitants . Visby is also the episcopal see for the Diocese of Visby. The Hanseatic city of Visby is arguably th ...
(Climbing)
Notable people
A number of notable people have originated from Visby, they are included in the Gotland list.
Gallery
;History
File:Fornsalen - Hafen von Visby.jpg, Reconstruction of Visby harbour during the Middle Ages
File:Visby 16arh.jpg, Visby as seen on an engraving from c. 1580
File:Suecia 3-034 ; Visby.jpg, Visby circa 1700, in '' Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna''
File:Wisby. Stadsvy , 1800-talets andra hälft, med Visby domkyrka - Nordiska museet - NMA.0091069.jpg, City view including Visby Cathedral
Visby Cathedral ( sv, Visby domkyrka), formally Visby Saint Mary's Cathedral (''Visby S:ta Maria domkyrka'') is a cathedral within the Church of Sweden, seat of the Bishop of Visby. It lies in the centre of Visby, the main town on the Swedish ...
in the second half of the 19th century.
;Main sights
File:Visby Dom v O.JPG, Visby Cathedral
Visby Cathedral ( sv, Visby domkyrka), formally Visby Saint Mary's Cathedral (''Visby S:ta Maria domkyrka'') is a cathedral within the Church of Sweden, seat of the Bishop of Visby. It lies in the centre of Visby, the main town on the Swedish ...
, view from the east
File:Visby ringmur östra delen norrut.jpg, City wall of Visby
File:St Nicolaus kyrkoruin Visby Gotland.jpg, Ruins of St. Nicholas' Church
File:Ruine St.Drotten 2.jpg, Ruins of St. Drotten's Church
;General views
File:Gatumiljo fran Visby, Gotland, Sverige, Johannes Jansson (1).jpg, The old pharmacy, Strandgatan.
File:Liljehornska huset.jpg, The Liljehornska house, Strandgatan.
File:Gråbrodern 4 Hultgrenska huset St Hansgatan Visby Gotland.jpg, The Hultgrenska house, S:t Hansgatan.
File:Norra murgatan 38, Visby, Gotland.jpg, Norra Murgatan.
File:Stora Torget och Södra Kyrkogatan, Visby.jpg, The Main Square and Södra Kyrkogatan.
;Visby harbour
See also
*
Galgberget, Visby
*
Gotland Museum
The Gotland Museum ( sv, Gotlands museum) (previously known as ''Länsmuseet på Gotland'' or ''Gotlands Fornsal'') in Visby, Sweden, is the county museum of Gotland. It was founded by the Friends of Gotland's Antiquity society in 1875, at the in ...
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List of churches and chapels on Gotland
The Swedish island of Gotland has since the early Middle Ages had a large number of churches and chapels.
Medieval churches
There are 92 medieval churches on Gotland; the island has more well-preserved medieval churches than any other part of Sw ...
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List of governors of Gotland County
This is a list of governors for Gotland County of Sweden, from 1689 to present.
Footnotes
References
{{County governors of Sweden
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Gotland
Gotland (, ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is ...
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List of people of Gotland
Notes
References
Bibliography
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External links
Gotland Tourist Association– Visby
Visby – a world heritage town*
{{Authority control
County seats in Sweden
Members of the Hanseatic League
Municipal seats of Gotland County
Populated places in Gotland County
Port cities and towns of the Baltic Sea
Romanesque architecture in Sweden
Swedish municipal seats
World Heritage Sites in Sweden
Viking Age populated places
Coastal cities and towns in Sweden
Pirate dens and locations
Cities in Gotland County