Kulturstig - Visne ängar

Here at Visne ängar there are several remains of house foundations, graves and vastar. Walk along the cultural trail, use your imagination, step back in history and imagine what the area may have looked like with farm buildings, farmland, the old road and a lake.

The farms at Visne meadows

There were four farms at Visne ängar during the Iron Age, of which around ten foundations remain. But what did the houses actually look like?

From the foundations of the houses found here, it can be interpreted that the strong stone foundations formed the basis for high roof structures supported inside by posts. The roofing may have consisted of peat, reeds or ag. At Lojsta Castle you can see what such a house might have looked like.

Ag is a semi-grass that grows on Gotland marshes. Using ag as a roofing material has a long tradition on Gotland. The County Administrative Board provides annual grants for re-roofing and roofing to maintain the tradition and knowledge of the material.

The land at Visne meadows

There are also remains of fields and other agricultural remains. Barley, wheat and rye were grown. The valuable land with grain was enclosed with stone fences, vastar, while the cows, pigs, sheep and other animals roamed freely. There are also the remains of fencing from the houses that led the animals to the pasture in the forest. The remains of these vastar, which can be found in several places on Gotland, are important for us to be able to form an idea of what the farms may have looked like.

To the east of the houses was an elongated marsh, a wetland, which has now been drained and cultivated. A stream runs from it. There you can see a stone with grinding channels in it, where, according to folklore, people sharpened their swords. Each farm had its own burial ground and one of these is south of the stream. There is also an old quarry nearby.

Good to know

The cultural trail passes through pastures with cattle and stables need to be crossed.

The land is privately owned, remember to show consideration and not to litter.