Västergarn is a populated area, a socken (not to be confused with parish), on the Swedish island of

Gotland Gotland (, ; ''Gutland'' in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a province, county, municipality, and diocese. The province includes the islands of Fårö and Gotska Sandön to the ...

. It comprises the same area as the administrative Västergarn District, established on 1January 2016.

Geography

Västergarn is the name of the socken as well as the district, sometimes referred to as Västergarn and Stora Mafrids in official documentation after an administrative merger of the two settlements. Västergarn is also the name of the small village surrounding the medieval

Västergarn Church Västergarn Church ( sv, Västergarns kyrka) is a medieval Lutheran church in Västergarn on the island of Gotland, Sweden. It belongs to the Diocese of Visby. History and architecture North of the presently visible church are the foundations of ...

, sometimes referred to as ''Västergarn kyrkby''. Västergarn is situated on the central west coast of Gotland. , Västergarn Church belongs to Sanda-Västergarn-Mästerby parish in Klinte pastorat, along with the churches in Sanda and

Mästerby Mästerby is a populated area, a socken or administrative parish (not to be confused with Parishes of the Church of Sweden, ecclesiastical parish), on the Swedish island of Gotland. It comprises the same area as the Registration districts in Swede ...

. Close by the coast in Västergarn is the former bay, now lake Paviken with its bird reserve. About off the coast is the Västergarns utholme island.

Smaklösa Museum

Right by the coast road in Västergarn is one of Gotland's smallest museums (). Lodged in an old gas station, it is dedicated to the

ic, slightly eccentric music group Smaklösa. The name literally means "Flavourless", but also "Tasteless" or "Tacky". The latter meaning is intended here as indicated by the name of their own record label "Tasteless Records". Since their start in 1973, the band has achieved cult status with dedicated followers both on and off the island. The band is known for its cleverly phrased lyrics, distaste for rehearsals and odd places to perform. They often make fun of other music events or shows and interpret things their own way. In 2006, they received Gotland Municipality's Culture Award. On 28July 1978, Swedish astronomer Claes-Ingvar Lagerkvist discovered an

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

s in the asteroid belt, which he named

7545 Smaklösa 7545 Smaklösa, provisional designation , is a stony background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 4 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 28 July 1978, by Swedish astronomer Claes-Ingvar Lagerkvist at Mou ...

, after the band. A summer resident on Gotland, Lagerkvist has stated that he is an avid Smaklösa fan.

References

External links

Objects from Västergarn at the Digital Museum
by Nordic Museum {{DEFAULTSORT:Vastergarn Populated places in Gotland County