Galgberget, Nature reserve in Visby, Sweden

Galgberget is a nature reserve just north of Visby on Gotland, bounded by the cliff edge to the west, County Road 149 to the east and the town to the south. Its gallows consist of a circular stone wall about one metre high and 16 metres in diameter, with an opening to the south. Inside, three limestone pillars about six metres tall rise from the wall; wooden beams once rested on them.

This site became an execution place in the 13th century when the stone structures with three pillars were built to hang criminals. Archaeological digs in 2008 confirmed centuries of use at the location and uncovered remains of dozens of individuals.

The name Galgberget means Gallow Hill, after the execution site on the ridge. During the Medieval Week, the local Society for Creative Anachronism branch Styringheim once set up a medieval tent camp here. The site is a registered ancient monument.

The reserve lies just north of Visby, bounded by the cliff edge to the west, County Road 149 to the east and the town to the south. The gallows, a circular stone wall about 16 metres across with an opening to the south, stands on open ground; a wooden information sign marks the site. The ground is bare limestone with blackthorn scrub, so wear sturdy shoes.

This is one of the few places in Europe where medieval execution structures survive within an active natural landscape that continues to thrive. The combination of grim history and living forest creates a place where past and present coexist in an unusual way.