"Because of its unique cultural values, the Hanseatic city of Visby has been put on UNESCO's World Heritage list"

People have been living in Visby for over five thousand years. During the 12th century, the city, previously a Viking trading station, developed into a leading commercial centre for trade with the Baltic, and one hundred years later had become one of the most important cities of the Hanseatic League. Great stone houses were erected, churches were founded, and a wall was put up to protect the citizens. Today, this wall is one of the best preserved in all of Europe. Despite the fact that Visby still has 200 buildings with a medieval foundation, 13 ruined churches, a cathedral and two monasteries, the modern city is very much alive. In 1995 Visby was put on UNESCO's World Heritage list, entailing a responsibility for keeping the city intact and passing it on to future generations in as fine a state of preservation as may be.

About 2,000 people live in the inner city and about 20,000 outside the wall. Within the wall, there are large numbers of small shops, restaurants, pubs and clubs, many of which keep open all year round. Here, too, are the offices of the municipal and national authorities and businesses of all sorts. Supermarkets and shopping malls have been located to the newer parts of the city outside the wall.