Torsburgen Fortress

Katthammarsvik, Sweden

Torsburgen was the largest ancient fortress in Northern Europe. It was originally constructed at the beginning of the 1st century AD. It was reinforced during the 4th century and used until c. 1100 AD. A timber-laced stone rampart encircles an area of 12 hectares. Scholars estimate that nearly 1000 soldiers would have been needed to defend it and it could have been providing refuge to the entire population of Gotland that is calculated to be between 6,000 and 10,000 in the early medieval period.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Kräklingbo Hajdeby 846, Katthammarsvik, Sweden

See all sites in Katthammarsvik

Details

Founded: 100-1100 AD
Category: Castles and fortifications in Sweden
Historical period: Roman Iron Age (Sweden)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Ardre Church (3,9 km)
Gammelgarn Church (5,1 km)
Ala Church (5,2 km)
Kräklingbo Church (3,7 km)
Anga Church (7,6 km)

St. Lawrence's Church Ruins (36 km)
Visby Old Town (36 km)
St. Catherine's Church Ruins (35,9 km)
Gotland Museum (35,9 km)
Visby Cathedral (35,9 km)
St. Clement Church Ruins (36,1 km)
St. Hans' & St. Peter's Church Ruins (35,8 km)
Holy Spirit Church Ruins (36 km)
Powder Tower (36,2 km)

User Reviews

Emil Almberg (4 years ago)
We could neither find a place to park the car, nor even locate a mound. The directions here are also deficient.

Kim Wiklund (4 years ago)
Fantastic place with geography reminiscent of Norrland.

Rim Hammami (5 years ago)
The worst app I've been through

Jessica Ahnén (5 years ago)
Perfect getaway!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Infomastern

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Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.