The medieval monastery and hospital outside Visby's walls

Just beyond the fortification walls of Visby lie the remains of Sankt Görans kyrkoruin. The site was located outside the city walls due to the risk of contagion, housing both a hospital and a church for those suffering from diseases.

Development of the current church structure commenced in the 1200s to replace an earlier building from the 1100s. Historically, the site was referred to as the hospital until 1353, when it began to be associated with the saint S:t Georgius. In common parlance, the facility was also known as the monastery, or 'Klostret', and records from 1617 mention 'Nunnestugan' at the site.

Life inside the complex was governed by monastic rules, with residents organized into groups of 'nuns' and 'monks'. Records from 1486 mention a 'priorissa' at the monastery. Although the facility was abandoned by royal decree in 1542, it was used for a period following a fire in 1611 while the Helgeandshospitalet was being repaired.

While the church is now a ruin closed to the public, it can be viewed from the outside. These stones remain as a testament to the history of the hospital and the community that once lived there.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons