Lärbro: Churches, Burial Mounds and History

Lärbro combines distinctive ecclesiastical architecture, prehistoric traces and more recent history. Those who want to combine culture and landscape when planning their trip will find a wide range of points of interest here: from the church and the neighbouring Kastal to the archaeological sites near Lärbro Pavalds and the Lärbro Krigssjukhusmuseum.

Church, Kastal and Bronze Age traces

Lärbro Church stands out for its unusual octagonal tower. A Kastal dating from the 12th century stands directly next to the church. It served to defend the parish and complements the ecclesiastical architecture with a medieval defensive building.

At Lärbro Pavalds, the history reaches back much further. The oldest burial mound there dates from the Early Bronze Age, from 1800 to 1100 BC. It has a diameter of 31 metres and is just over 2 metres high. Also at Lärbro Pavalds is a prehistoric hillfort on a natural elevation at the highest point in the area. From there, there are views over Vägumeviken. Three house foundations are the remains of the first farmstead; they are approximately 23 metres long and 12 to 14 metres wide.

Burial Ground and Historic Landscape

The Domarlunden burial ground near Lärbro was used for approximately 1,500 years. Some of the remains are visible from the road. At Lajkarhajd, there is a place to park, from where it is about a 500-metre walk to Domarlunden. The two options for finding your way to the site therefore differ clearly: part of the burial ground can already be seen from the road, while the route from Lajkarhajd covers the stated walking distance to the archaeological site.

At Kauparveröset in Lärbro, a distinct remnant of a chimney-like tower made of stacked limestone is visible. The burial mound there was built in several stages. Lärbro Bjärsgravfält lies directly alongside Road 147; around two or three cars can park by the information sign, but there is no marked path. Together with Domarlunden and the traces at Lärbro Pavalds, this creates a picture of different historical periods, without reducing the individual sites to the same period.

The Lärbro Krigssjukhusmuseum

The Lärbro Krigssjukhusmuseum is devoted to the period of preparedness from 1939 to 1945, the refugee period from 1944 to 1945, and the admission of 460 patients from German concentration camps between 1945 and 1946. The subject thus ranges from preparations during the war to the specific consequences in the years that followed.

Personal and historical stories are presented at the museum through documents, photographs, audio recordings and films. For travellers who want to explore historical places not only through buildings and landscapes but also through individual fates, this section provides a distinct focus.

Diving and Further Comparisons with Other Locations

Dyk och Sport Gotland offers diving courses, diving excursions, try dives and wreck safaris.

For comparison with other locations in the same selection, Fleringe, Ronehamn, Kappelshamn, Hejdeby, Tingstäde, Slite, Gothem and Väskinde are available.

For the overarching travel overview: Gotland.