Swedish Wanderlust

Visby’s St. Lars Church is one of the most unusual medieval structures on Gotland- built in the early 1100s with round arches and a Byzantine flair that stands out among the sharper Gothic bones of the city. But beyond its architectural curiosity lies a haunting legend that caught my attention immediately: the story of the Sad Monk.

They say he still roams the ruin’s crumbling halls, searching for a treasure he lost- or maybe was sworn to protect. Some believe it’s buried within the church walls. Others say it was taken from him unjustly. Either way, this monk’s sorrow is so strong, it’s said to linger in the stones themselves. He appears on quiet, misty nights- just a shadow drifting among the columns, eyes cast downward, as if still waiting for redemption.

No photos exist. No hard proof. Just stories and chills- and that’s exactly what makes it perfect.

🕯️ Why I’m So Into This

Y’all know I love a good ghost story. I grew up on them- Mama Brown telling tales out on the porch, my dad lighting candles during Southern power outages, spinning yarns about haunted crossroads and spirits wandering the woods. Down South, between the tornados and the lightning bugs, we learned early that a little fear made life way more interesting.

And if you’ve ever heard of the Headless Horseman of the Pea River, then you know exactly what I mean. That old tale out of Pike County, Alabama- right near Josie, where my family’s from- was about a phantom rider who’d emerge from the river fog, galloping silent and headless along the bank. It was the kind of story that kept you from swimming too far out or walking home alone. Local lore, yes- but it felt possible.

So this story? Of a lonely monk pacing a stone ruin half a world away? It hits that same nerve. Sad, spooky, maybe a little holy- and maybe waiting on someone like me to show up and hear the rest.

🇸🇪 Swedish Word of the Day

Spöke (SPUH-keh) – Ghost

Used in a sentence:

“Om jag ser ett spöke i Visby, kommer jag att skrika, snubbla över en ruin, och sedan låtsas att det var helt planerat.”

“If I see a ghost in Visby, I’m going to scream, trip over a ruin, and then pretend it was all part of the tour.”