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Bicycling on the “ Enchanted” Island of Gotland
Did you ever fantasize about bicycling on a country road in
the glow of the setting sun at 10:30 at night?
In Scandinavia, summer days continue into long “timeless”
evenings, which are perfect for bicycling, canoeing or hiking.
I invite you to come bicycling on the Swedish island of
Gotland! The island is also referred to as “the Pearl of the Baltic Sea,”
and is in my mind truly a magical place. It is the ideal place to explore by
bicycle and has long been a bicycle paradise for Scandinavians. Gotland is 75
miles long by 35 miles at its widest part, and is almost entirely flat. The
island boasts of more sunny days than any other parts of Scandinavia, and the
cooling waves of the sea are never too far away.
Gotland was first discovered by a man named Tjelvar. At that
time the island was bewitched so that it sank into the sea by day and rose again
at night. But after Tjelvar brought fire to the island, it never again sank.
This is the account of the Guta Saga, a history of Gotland
put down in writing in the 13th century. To this day, the island of Gotland
appears enchanted with its wealth of memories of ages past. The medieval wall
around the city of Visby is a striking remnant of a time in history when the
city was a powerful Hanseatic port and is one of Europe’s best-preserved
structures from the middle Ages. It was put on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as
a unique cultural treasure.
Roses in brilliant colors climb walls and houses everywhere,
and scent the air with their fragrance. Narrow lanes and picturesque ruins of
gabled houses and churches give Visby, “The City of Roses and Ruins,” its
charm and medieval flavor. The summertime also brings a lively outdoor life to
the city with many sidewalk cafes and restaurants.
The Viking era brought Gotland into the center of world
trade. Boulders marking graves in the shape of Viking long ships can still be
seen along the roadside. Huge fortunes were amassed in the countryside, and
today we marvel at the hoards of silver and gold that were once buried in
Gotland’s soil.
Magnificent
stone churches from the 12th and 13th centuries are testament to the wealth of
the middle ages. Toward the end of the 14th century there was a shift of power
in the Baltic region and the island’s age of greatness was over. Very few
changes took place for hundreds of years. Today, we feel grateful that this
“unfortunate” fate preserved the town of Visby in its medieval state.
For those interested in nature, Gotland offers an unusual
variety of scenery, all equally fascinating: dramatic coastlines with steep
cliffs; sandy beaches and flowery meadows (perfect for a relaxing bicycle stop);
and windswept woods on rocky soil. Gotland is a land of limestone and one of the
most fossil-rich places in the world. The lime-graveled roads, adorned with
wildflowers, gleam in the sunshine and the light is as intense as in the
Mediterranean region.
The island also has distinctive and rich flora. Thirty-six species of orchids flourish here, perhaps due to the mild climate and the limestone soil. No visitor should miss the monumental sea stacks, dramatic stone pillars carved out of soft limestone by the action of the wind and the waves. Sitting among these “ stone giants” watching the sun set into the sea is an experience you’ll never forget.