About Gotland and Visby
Gotland is Sweden’s largest island, located about 90 km from the Swedish mainland in the centre of the Baltic Sea.
The island has an area of about 3,450 square kilometres and the population is about 59,000. The island can boast Sweden’s highest sunshine record and is certainly well worth a visit, not least because of its great natural and cultural interest, as well as its history which goes back many thousand years.
There are no less than 100-plus medieval churches all around the island, as well as thousands of remains from the Stone Age and the Viking era, giant limestone formations "raukar" along the coastline, delightful long sandy beaches, high cliffs, beautiful flower meadows and much more.
Gotland has been a centre for trade with other countries in the Baltic region since the time of the Vikings. Visby, the island’s only town, was a member of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages and it still has important reminders of that era. Among the medieval alleys there are old warehouses, ruined churches and monasteries, as well as the impressive 3.6 km long town wall which encircles the Hanseatic town.
Visby
Visby’s well-preserved medieval town centre won international recognition in 1995 when it was placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, an achievement of which the town’s residents are justly proud. On the following web-pages you’ll find information on the various accommodation and package options we can offer for your trip to Gotland.
St Mary’s Cathedral, originally built by German traders, is still a place of worship to this day and is worth a visit during your stay in Visby. The town’s former status as a Hanseatic trading centre is underlined by street names which recall its links with Riga, Hamburg and Novgorod.
Wisby Strand
The congress venue is Wisby Strand Congress & Event, a new meeting arena, opening in April 2007.
The venue will have the best location imaginable in Visby, right near Almedalen and Gotland University, and on the coast. Wisby Strand will have an area of 6000 square meters with seating for 1000 persons. The restaurant will be facing the sea and will be having a spectacular view.
Contact: Niklas Johansson, niklas.johansson(a)naturvardsverket.se