World Heritage Photos

Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: The Island of Öland is located in the Baltic Sea, just off the east coast of Sweden. People have lived here for more than 5000 years and left their mark on the unique landscape of Southern Öland. There are traces from different ages, from prehistoric times until the present day, among them Iron Age settlements and ancient grave fields. Gråborg Fortress is the largest Iron Age ring fortress of Sweden. Gråborg Fortress and 19 other similar constructions on Öland were built in the centuries during which the Roman Empire was collapsing. Seby is one of the largest ancient burial grounds of Öland including 285 graves, the burial ground was used until the Viking Age. The southern part of Öland is dominated by the Stora Alvaret, the Great Alvar. A great assortment of vegetation is found on the limestone plateau of Stora Alvaret. The first systematic study of the Stora Alvaret was undertaken by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, he observed the variety of unusual wild flowers that were able to survive in the sparse soil that covers the limestone. In the 19th century, Öland had about 2000 windmills, some 400 have survived today. Nowadays, the wooden windmills are a symbol of the Island of Öland. The Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland is located about 100 km northeast of the UNESCO World Heritage Naval Port of Karlskrona. The Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2000.

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: In the 19th century, Öland had almost 2000 wooden windmills. Every farmer had a mill of his own. The mills were used for grinding corn. There are still 400 windmills left on Öland. The windmills have become the symbol of the Island of Öland. The agricultural landscape of Southern Öland was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2000.

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: Stora Alvaret, the Great Alvar, is a limestone barren plain. A great assortment of vegetation is found on the Great Alvar, including orchids. The first systematic study of Stora Alvaret was undertaken by Carl Linnaeus who observed the variety of unusual wild flowers that were able to survive in the sparse soil that covers the limestone plain.

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: Möckelmossen is a marshy lake and wetland area at the Stora Alvaret, the Great Alvar. Möckelmossen is known for its rich bird life. The marshy lake and wetland areas of Möckelmossen are popular tanking station for migrating birds. The water area varies throughout the different seasons. Öland has the most hours of sunshine in Sweden.

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: An ancient grave field nearby the Stora Alvaret, the Great Alvar. The Stora Alvaret is dominating the southern part of Southern Öland. Birds and rare insects populate the Stora Alvaret. Grazing sheep has created conditions for rare plant species such as the Öland rock rose, one of the species that Carl Linneus discovered in 1741.

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: Vickleby is a small village on Southern Öland. The village of Vickleby has just over 300 inhabitants.The stone church of Vickleby was built in 12th century. The Island of Öland is situated in the Baltic Sea, just off the east coast of Sweden. On Öland, there are traces from different ages, from prehistoric times until the present day. 

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: A wooden house in the small village of Vickleby. The picturesque village of Vickleby is situated near the Ölandsbron, the bridge over the Kalmarsund, connecting mainland Sweden and the Island of Öland. The Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2000.

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: The Resmo Church is one of the oldest churches in Sweden and it is still in use. The church was built in the late 11th century by Danish builders. Inside the stone Resmo Church, there are some frescoes dating from the 12th century. Öland adopted Christianity in the mid-11th century. The rise of Christianity ended the Viking age.

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: A rune stone near the burial ground of Seby. The inscription of the rune stone says: 'Ingjald, Näf and Sven let to erect this stone as a memorial to their father Rodmar'. Seby is one of the largest ancient burial grounds on Öland including 285 graves. The burial ground of Seby was used until the Viking Age.

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   Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: The ancient grave field near Segerstad dates back to the Iron Age, some graves are probably older. Öland was inhabited for more than 5000 years and people left their mark on the unique landscape of Öland. Prehistoric monuments include Iron Age stone circles, buriel sites, stone forts and dwelling foundations.

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    Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: Eketorp Fortress was built during the Iron Age about 400 AD. Eketorp Fortress was reconstructed and enlarged during the Middle Ages. In the 20th century, the fortress was completely dug out and reconstructed. Eketorp Fortress is the only one of the nineteen known prehistoric fortifications on Öland that has been fully excavated.

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    Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: Inside the five metres high stone ring wall of Eketorp Fortress several Iron Age houses, Viking houses and medieval houses were reconstructed and built using traditional materials and methods. The museum within the ring wall of the fortress houses numerous artefacts found during the excavations of Eketorp Fortress.

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    Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: Gråborg Fortress is the largest Iron Age ring fortress of Sweden. Gråborg Fortress and nineteen other similar constructions on Öland were erected in the centuries during which the Roman Empire was collapsing. Gråborg Fortress was rebuilt in its present size in the 12th century. The ruins of Gråborg Fortress lie close to the Chapel of St. Knut.

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    Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: The ruins of the medieval Chapel of St. Knut. The Chapel of St. Knut is situated nearby Gråborg Fortress. The chapel got its name from a medieval king, the canonised Danish King Knut. The Chapel of St. Knut was probably founded in the 12th century. The chapel fell into disuse during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.

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    Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: A Geatish farmstead located nearby the ruins of the Chapel of St. Knut and the Gråborg Fortress. The roof of a Geatish farm building is covered with straw or reeds. A Geatish farm building has a characteristic roof ridge. This kind of roofing was commonly used in the southern part of Sweden, mostly on farms and barns.

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    Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: Borgs Ängar is an old hay meadow dating back to the Iron Age. Iron Age people started here with agriculture and husbandry. The hay was used for feeding the animals during winter. The remains of stone walls, dating from the Iron Age, are scattered everywhere. Now, the landscape comprises the visible features from the last century.

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    Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland: One of the wooden windmills of Öland, the island is famous for its windmills. In the 19th century, Öland had about 2000 windmills, some 400 have survived today. Nowadays, the windmills are the symbol of Öland. The agricultural landscape of Southern Öland was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.