Facts About Visby
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Visby is the only city on the Swedish island of Gotland.
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The earliest history of Visby is uncertain, but it is known to have been a center of merchandise around 900 AD. It was inhabited as early as the Stone Age, probably because of the access to fresh water and a natural harbor.
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Visby has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, since 1995. It is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Scandinavia.
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Visby is known as ‘The city of roses and ruins’, with around 200 medieval houses on winding lanes.
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In the year 1909, Ulrich von Jungingen sold the island to Queen Margaret of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden to ensure peace with the Kalmar Union of Scandinavia.
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In 1645 Visby was once again taken and ruled by Sweden. For a few months in 1808 Gotland was taken over by Russians but it soon was returned back to Sweden peacefully.
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One of the asteroids in the asteroid belt, 6102 Visby, is named after Visby.
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The name “Visby” comes from the Old Norse place of sacrifices”, and by, meaning “village”.
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The Population of Visby is 24,330, as of 2017.
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Visby is also the sole county seat in Sweden accessible from the mainland only by boat and air.
Other Interesting Facts that you might enjoy:
- Interesting Facts About Tarragona
- Interesting Facts About Suzdal
- Interesting Facts About Krasnoyarsk
Explore Visby in 4 hours with Gotland.com (External Link)
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