Visby - Town Walls

The most notable feature of Visby is the 3.5km/2mi long circuit of town walls, built of limestone in the latter part of the 13th century and strengthened about 1300. At regular intervals round the walls are 44 towers standing between 15 and 20m (50 and 60ft) high. At two points there are large breaches in the walls - one on the east side, thought to have been caused by a Swedish attack in 1524, and the other on the west, the result of an attack by the Lübeckers a year later. On the seaward side is the Powder Tower (Kruttornet), probably built in the 11th century and incorporated in the later walls. Near the north end is the Maiden's Tower (Jungfrutornet), in which legend has it that the daughter of a Visby goldsmith was walled up alive for betraying the town to the Danes out of love for the Danish king Valdemar Atterdag. The adjoining corner tower is known as the Silver Cap (Silverhättan). From here the walls run east to the line of cliffs, turn south at the town's main gate, the Norderport, follow the edge of the cliffs to the Söderport (South Gate) and finally turn west to end at the ruins of Visborg Castle, overlooking the harbor.