Bremen - Puttgarden/Rödby (F) - Helsingör/Heslingborg (F) - Oskarshamn/Visby (F) - Lickeshamn (Gotland) - Sudersand (Fårö) - Ǻminne (Gotland) - Ljugarn (Gotland) - Burgsvik (Gotland) - Sandhamn (Gotland) - Visby/Oskarshamn (F) - Ǻhus - Helsingborg/Helsingör (F) - Rödby/Puttgarden (F) - Bremen
Gotland is a Swedish Baltic island which can be reached among other things about by ferry from Oskarshamn, Nynäshamn or from Nord-Öland to Visby. There are several departures daily and the crossing lasts approx. 3 hours. Gotland is about 150 km long and up to 50 km wide. In the north one reaches by (free) car-ferry about the approx. 1.4 km wide Fårösund the smaller island "Fårö". Some other islands belong to Gotland. The bigger ones are approx. 50 km farther northern "Gotska Sandön" (nature reserve) and "Lilla and Stora Karlsö" in the southwest (nature reserve). The island Gotland exists largely of lime sandstone which has formed before more than 400 million years in the Silur sea in the south Atlantic and has moved by the movement of the continents to his today's place. Today in it enclosed one finds many fossils like sea lilies, corals, snails, octopuses or sponges. Actually, one can take on the beach no step without tripping over a fossil fragment. Klint-or rock-coasts one finds in the northwest, but also in Hoburgen in the south. Raukas - these are single towers from sandstone up to 8 - 11 m high - one hits at different places on the coast, but also on the island. Gotland is a bicycle island. The wheels can be rented at different places also as a tandem or with luggage follower and there is the signposted "Gotlandsleden" which is well frequented in summer.
On the west side of the island, about 10-15km to the north of Visby, lies the Lummelundagrotte which can be visited. Here beside Stalagtiten and Stalagmiten one comes to contact with the first sea lilies-fossil leftovers, embedded in the cover vault of the cave.
In Sudersand on Fårö there are 2 Campingplaces.One is directly after the sandy beach. In July you should call for free campingsides before, if you need electric power.
At the North-East point you find the light of Fårö.
In the nature reserve Langhammaren in the northwest of Fårö we visited the first Rauka area. With Diggerhuvud another Rauka area applies to approx. 3.5 km along the coast.
Not only the height is imposing. One leaves free to his imagination in case of the consideration. Besides, in any case, we have discovered different heads, faces, elephants, chickens or poodles.
"Stäng grinden" - please close the gate. Cycle tracks often lead above pasture surfaces of cows and sheep where the animals freely graze.
Beside Lauter on Fårö there is also a Rauka field.
In Gothem with Åminne on Gotland we visited one of many worth seeing churches. Besides, rests of old military towers are also often found in the direct sphere.
The walls and covers of the bright church are decorated with paintings. The pulpit (from 1726) and the choral stalls are of wood.
With Ljugarn on the east coast of Gotland there was Folhammar to visit, a Rauka field. Between the stone layers the fossilization steps openly.
In Burgsvik in the south of the island lies a nicely invested and excellent equipped camping place. It turned out the possibility to build up once again the radio antenna (glass fiber mast, 10 m long) and to search contacts from all the world. At least, contacts to Europe, North America, India, Japan and China could be effected during the whole island stay by different locations. Particularly the amateur radio connections with "Maria S. Merian", to a German research vessel with which our daughter was on the way to Newfoundland (mni tnx Martin!).
In the southeast we explored the nature reserve Holmhällar.
The sea was turned up a little bit.
Hoburgen: The southern end of Gotland.
... and the south point.
A little advertisement for a "Smultronställe": In search of a suitable camping place we hit on a nice camping place with Sandhamn (west coast, in the street 140, approx. 10 km to the south of Klintehamn, to the south of Fröjel) on a hill with direct look at the sea. OK, the facilities are not the newest, but this camping place was not only quiet and very clean but also extremely favorable and is led from a private camping community as an association "Södra Gotländiska Campingklubb". There is no adoption and simply searches a free place for itself. One receives a paper envelope from club members, puts down name, In and departure date, adds calculated camping fees and throws in mailbox - ready.
In Hablinbo (southwest) there is the only production plant on Gotland for W-I-N-E, which is expelled about the Systembolaget (monopol. alcohol store in Sweden) in Hemse also (expensive). On a bicycle tour along the coast we hit on a special field with the green plants which turned out as vines. The island before the coast is "Lilla Karlsö".
The area lies with Valve.
The wine comes as "an ordinary table wine" to the shelves of the Systembolaget.
There is a Högklint coast few kilometres to the south of Visby.
... but also here bigger demolitions seem now and then...
... and it goes precipitously downhill.
Visby within sight. From "Högklint" one has an excellently view.
The city centre of Visby is surrounded by an exceptionally well-preserved town wall.
Look above the town wall with cathedral church and some church ruins in the city centre.
With the cathedral church one should also look upwards direct upon many small figures.
Gotland is rich in fossilization. Age: 400 - 420 million years!
On the left: Sea lilies On the right: Corals
On the left: octopuses (Blackfish) On the right: sponges
sundown at Sandhamn
