Romakloster: Monastery Ruins, Avenues and Pilgrimsled

Romakloster combines medieval monastic history with a landscape of grain fields, avenues and the nearby deciduous forest of Klosteränge. The main attractions are Roma kloster och kungsgård, monumental monastery ruins, a cultural history exhibition and a Pilgrimsled. Those looking for a holiday apartment for their Gotland holiday will find a place where cultural and natural interests can deliberately be combined in their travel plans.

Monastic History and Historic Buildings

Roma kloster was founded in 1163 or 1164 by monks from Nydala kloster at the site of the Gotland assembly Gutnaltinget. The medieval name of the monastery was Monasterium Beatae Mariae Gutnaliae. This early foundation gives a visit a clear historical focus without limiting the trip to a single attraction.

The present main building and the two wings of Roma kungsgård were built in 1733. Material from the walls and buildings of the monastery complex was used for the construction. Roma klosterkyrka survives as monumental three-nave ruins; the well-preserved portal on the west façade is particularly striking. Roma kyrka, built at the end of the 12th century, also provides an important historical point of reference.

Exhibition, Avenues and Landscape

The main building of Roma Kungsgård houses a permanent cultural history exhibition produced by Gotlands Museum. It complements the view of the monastery ruins with an exhibition venue inside the building. Five representative avenues of elm and maple trees lead to Roma kungsgård and shape the approach with a striking historic landscape design.

The surroundings of Roma also offer a distinct natural attraction. Klosteränge contains an almost 30-hectare deciduous forest. It is home to one of the largest stands of old oak trees on Gotland. The old oaks and ash trees provide cavities in which, among others, stock doves, jackdaws, starlings, nuthatches and pied flycatchers breed. Klosteränge formerly belonged to the extensive lands of Roma kloster. For those interested in nature, this creates a different way of accessing the history of the place: Not only the buildings, but also the landscape tells the story of its former importance.

Pilgrimsled and Railway History

The Pilgrimsled begins at Tillåtelsens kapell at Roma kungsgård and runs along the railway track between Roma and the Hesselby museijärnväg in Dalhem. The route is approximately seven kilometres long; the walk through easy terrain is estimated to take two hours and 30 minutes. Bear this approximate distance and duration in mind if you want to divide your day between culture and exercise.

Roma kungsgård is also a popular destination for day trips and can serve as a stopover during a walk or run. The Gotlands Hesselby Jernväg to Roma is 6.5 kilometres long in total and was inaugurated on 14 May 2015. The railway aims to operate Gotland trains in an authentic setting, thereby creating an illusion of times gone by. This gives you different options when planning your trip: You can delve deeper into the history of the monastery, explore the landscape on foot or learn about the region's railway history.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Romakloster, you can first decide what daily rhythm suits your trip. Those mainly interested in cultural history can focus on the founding of the monastery, the ruins, Roma kyrka and the exhibition. Those who enjoy spending time outdoors can include the Pilgrimsled and Klosteränge. A combination of both leaves room for alternating between historic impressions, avenues, woodland and a walk or run.

Roma kloster och kungsgård is located on Road 143 between Visby and Ljugarn and is surrounded by grain fields and avenues. This geographical context helps you plan Romakloster as a specific part of your trip on Gotland. When choosing accommodation, the main consideration is therefore whether you want to focus your stay on the historic sites, nature experiences or a balanced combination of both.

Further Places for Your Travel Plans

Further places you can explore when planning your trip: Lärbro, Fröjel, Havdhem, Fleringe, Burgsvik, Katthammarsvik, När and Klintehamn.

For the overall travel overview: Gotland.