Kaupungs slott

Up on a cliff in Ardre parish lies Kaupung Castle. Yes, castles are what ancient fortifications are called here on Gotland.

The fortress at Kaupungs klint measures 100 x 80 meters. From southeast to west it is protected by ramparts and from north to east by natural cliffs. The presently demolished ramparts have a total length of 125 meters and are at most 6 meters wide and 2 meters high. The main entrance is located in the southwest and is protected by curved ramparts.

There are around 100 ancient castles on Gotland, of which around 30 are cliff castles like Kaupung Castle. Ancient castles have often had different functions at different times. They may have been checkpoints, refugee castles or fortified farms during troubled times and trading posts, customs stations, courthouses, places of worship or perhaps animal pens during calmer periods. Not all castles functioned at the same time or for the same length of time. Studies show that most were built and used mainly during the Iron Age.

Within a kilometer there are remains of no less than three farms from the early Iron Age. Later, when the castle was abandoned, it was used for burials. There are two graves inside the castle.