Discover Romakloster: Monastery, royal estate and Pilgrims’ Trail

Romakloster draws attention to Roma kloster och kungsgård: the site is located on Road 143 between Visby and Ljugarn, surrounded by fields of grain and tree-lined avenues. More than 900 years of history come together here with medieval monastery architecture, a royal estate and opportunities for walking. If you are looking for a destination with cultural history and surrounding landscapes, Roma offers several different points of interest.

From monastery to royal estate

Monks from Nydala kloster founded Roma kloster in 1163 or 1164 at the site of the Gotlandic assembly, Gutnaltinget. The medieval name of the monastery was Monasterium Beatae Mariae Gutnaliae. The history of the site therefore goes back to the 12th century. The present main building and the two wings of Roma kungsgård were built much later: in 1733. Building materials from the walls and buildings of the monastery complex were used in their construction. This creates a tangible connection between the medieval foundation and the construction of the royal estate, visible in the reused materials.

Church ruins, exhibition and avenues

Roma klosterkyrka is a monumental three-aisled ruin with a well-preserved portal on its west façade. Three-aisled means that the church interior is divided into three aisles. This is distinct from Roma kyrka, which was built at the end of the 12th century. These two references to churches locate the area’s religious architectural history in two different buildings.

The main building of Roma kungsgård houses a permanent cultural history exhibition produced by Gotlands Museum. Some operational details may vary seasonally, so check them before your visit. The landscape around the royal estate is also part of the character of the place: five formal avenues of elm and maple trees lead to Roma kungsgård. The estate can be a stopping point during a walk or run.

Pilgrims’ Trail and museum railway

The Pilgrims’ Trail begins at Tillåtelsens kapell at Roma kungsgård and runs along the railway track between Roma and Hesselby museijärnväg in Dalhem. The route is about seven kilometres long. The estimated time for walking the route over easy terrain is two hours and 30 minutes. The distance and duration provide a guide for planning your time; the walking time is explicitly an estimate and applies to easy terrain.

The Gotlands Hesselby Jernväg to Roma is a separate route: its total length is 6.5 kilometres, and it was inaugurated on 14 May 2015. The railway aims to run Gotlandic trains in an authentic setting, creating the illusion of bygone times. The two distance figures therefore describe different things: the approximate walking distance of the Pilgrims’ Trail and the total length of the railway. Railway services may vary seasonally; if you are planning a journey, it is worth checking the latest information.

Woodland and birdlife at Klosteränge

Klosteränge, an almost 30-hectare deciduous woodland, lies near Roma. It is home to one of the largest stands of old oaks on Gotland. Stock doves, jackdaws, starlings, nuthatches and collared flycatchers, among others, nest in cavities in old oaks and ash trees. Today the woodland is part of the landscape around Roma; in the past, Klosteränge was part of the extensive lands of Roma kloster. This connects the area’s natural environment with the history of the monastery, without making them the same subject: the monastery complex represents architecture and building history, while Klosteränge is about deciduous woodland and birdlife.

For your trip planning, this gives you a clear choice based on your interests: the monastery complex and exhibition offer cultural history, the Pilgrims’ Trail offers a walk with a stated distance and estimated duration, and Klosteränge offers woodland and birds. Roma kungsgård can also be a stopping point during a walk or run.

Discover more destinations: Gothem, Burgsvik, Väskinde, Ronehamn, Lojsta, Fårö, Väte, Dalhem

For the main travel overview: Gotland.