Gotland from the 18th century to today

The 18th century to today

Much of what characterises Gotland today, with tourism and travel in focus, has its roots in what was happening in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the island's resplendent buildings from that time are still around.

Travel to and from the island has long been of importance. Did you know that steamboats traversed the Baltic carrying travellers longing for Gotland as early as in the 19th century? And that during the Second World War, casualties were shipped here to receive care at what was the most modern hospital at the time?

The 18th century saw an upswing in trade and commerce, resulting in a rise in construction. The number of homes in Visby doubled. They were built of stone to reduce the risk of fire and to preserve the forest. Many of the old packhouses were refurbished.

In around 1785, Visby had more than 5,000 residents and was the fifth largest city in Sweden.

In 1808, during the Finnish War, Russia occupied the island, but the Swedes came to the rescue and took it back.

During the 19th century, Gotlanders began to care for and preserve their ruins, including the wall surrounding Visby. And Visby became one of the most popular tourist destinations in the entire country.

During the Crimean War in 1853, a great number of British sailors became afflicted with cholera and were buried at the English cholera cemetery on Fårö.

At the end of the 19th century, Visby became a shipping port for increased industrialisation. All rail lines that were built had Roma as their starting point.

Until the end of the 19th century, fishing was a common way to supplement income obtained through agriculture, which is seen in the fact that many small fishing villages were built. With the increase of commercial fishing in the 20th century, a great number of buildings in the villages were abandoned.

1785: Visby is Sweden's fifth largest city with over 5,000 inhabitants. 1808: Russia occupies Gotland, which is soon returned to Sweden. 1853: British sailors are afflicted with cholera and buried on Fårö. 1866: Steamship company Gotland is established.

1878: First railroad for general traffic. At the end of the 19th century, Visby is a shipping harbour and the railroad is expanded. Fishing is a common pasttime and Gotland is a budding tourist destination.

In the late 19th century, Gotland was a budding tourist destination for the well-to-do. Ljugarn was Gotland’s first seaside resort.

The first commercial steamboat traffic from Visby to the mainland was started in 1866 by Ångfartygsbolaget Gotland, later Rederi AB Gotland.

In 1878, the first passenger trains traversed the stretch between Visby and Hemse. Eventually, Burgsvik in the south and Lärbro in the north were included.

In the mid-1900s, a limestone quarry was established in Slite and a sugar mill in Roma. Loads and loads of limestone and sugar beets were transported by rail.

During both World Wars, the military had a very strong presence on Gotland. Significant parts of Gotland were therefore closed to foreign tourists during the entire century and a couple of years into the 21st.

Between the years of 1939 and 1946, Lärbro war hospital was the most modern hospital in all of Sweden. Here, refugees, capitulated soldiers and concentration camp victims from the horrors of the Second World War were cared for. The war hospital was later converted into a penal institution.

In 1944, the Hansa Catastrophe occurred when the Gotland passenger boat SS Hansa was hit by a Russian torpedo and sank. Eighty-four of the 86 people on board perished in what was the greatest seafaring catastrophe in Sweden since the 17th century.

During the 1950s and 60s, many of the smaller limestone quarries were shut down. Large-scale operations were the new thing. Some of the discontinued quarries are now popular swimming holes.

In 1968, Almedalen Week was instituted when then Prime Minister Olof Palme held a speech from a lorry flatbed near Almedalen. The year 1991 saw the first time that all Swedish political party leaders participated in what is now a traditional event.

Visby was named a World Heritage City in 1995.

In 2003, the new high-speed ferries from Visby to Oskarshamn and Nynäshamn became operational.

In 2019, Destination Gotland started using new, LNG-powered vessels, which have great environmental benefits. LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas.

At the end of the 19th century, a journey over the Baltic in the steam ships of the time took 13 hours. Today, the same journey takes about three hours in comfortable high-speed ferries. Lucky for those of us who love to travel to Gotland!

1939 – 1946: Lärbro war hospital is Sweden's most modern hospital. 1944: The Hansa Catastrophe

1991: All political parties participate in Almedalen Week.

1968: Almedalen Week starts.

Military presence is great on Gotland during the World Wars. Limestone quarries are started in Slite and Roma sugar mill. 1995: Visby is named World Heritage City. 2019: New, gaspowered LNG vessels.

2003: High-speed ferries