Overview
Gnisvärd (also referred to as Gnisvärd and Smågårde), is a fishing village in Tofta on the central west coast of the island of Gotland, Sweden. Gnisvärd is mostly known for its stone ships and harbor.
Geography
Gnisvärd is a small fishing village in the Tofta socken on the west coast of Gotland. It also includes the neighboring settlement Smågårde, about inland from Gnisvärd. A manmade harbor with a breakwater was constructed in 1931. An extension of the harbor for pleasure craft was added later. , Gnisvärd Chapel belongs to Eskelhem-Tofta parish in Eskelhems pastorat, along with the churches in Eskelhem and Tofta. One of the asteroids in the main belt, 10814 Gnisvärd, is named after this place.
History
Gnisvärd was first used as a harbor during the Viking Age. Along the north road to Gnisvärd are some of the best preserved Bronze Age stone ships on Gotland. Most of the cottages were built during the 20th century. was built in 1839 on the site of an earlier wooden chapel, probably dating from the 1600s.
Fälting-Lotte
One of the more noted persons from Gnisvärd was Anna Chartlotta Ganström (30March 183714September 1912), also known as Fälting-Lotte. The daughter of a boatswain, Fälting started out as a maid and later became one of Gotland's first female professional fishermen.
Etymology
Gnisvärd is sometimes referred to as "Gnidsvärd", a combination of the Swedish gnid ("rub" or "wipe") and svärd ("sword"). The origin of this name is explained in old documents collected by the priest Hans Nielsön Strelow (158727February 1656) and recorded in the 1633 chronicle Chronica Guthilandorum. According to the text, Gotland suffered badly from sea-borne attacks by German pirates during the 17th century. The pirates also occupied the two islands of Stora Karlsö and Lilla Karlsö, southwest of Gnisvärd. The Gotlandic chieftains finally had enough and united in a counterattack on the pirates. Gierre from Sjonhem and Bogke, supplied his brother Hangvar with 18 manned ships, and made him commander of the campaign. They sailed from Bogeviken and attacked the pirates at the two islands where they killed them all and burned their 80 ships.
When they returned to land after a successful campaign, they wiped their swords clean of the blood of their enemies in the white sand at "Gnidesuerdshaffn"—Gnidsvärd.
Stone ships
The stone ships in Gnisvärd (the Gnisvärds skeppssättningar) date to the later Bronze Age and are some of the best preserved stone ships on the island. Located just south of the north road to the fishing village, one of them is the largest on Gotland, measuring in length and in breadth. Consisting of about 100 closely packed, erected stones, the bow and stern stones are the largest at approximately . The stone ship is located between two smaller, round stone circles. About south of the largest stone ship lies another, and wide, surrounded by two small stone circles, a stone tumulus in diameter and a smaller, slightly damaged stone ship. Approximately east of the first stone ship is a burial site consisting of one tumulus and eight round stone circles. There is also a large stone tumulus, in diameter and high, halfway between the stone ships and the fishing village.
North of the stone ships is the only megalithic tomb on Gotland dating to 3600–2900 BC. Excavations at the site have revealed the remains of several people from different time periods up until 85 AD, making it a collective grave that has been reused several times. The largest of the stone ships is positioned with its "prow" facing the tomb. Since the stone ship was constructed after the tomb, it has been suggested that this could have been done to "moor" the ship to an older and revered place.
False stone ship
Between the original stone ships and the beach is an enormous construction () that looks like a stone ship. However, this construction is not listed by the Swedish National Heritage Board.
Gallery
File:Megalith tomb Gnisvärd winter.jpg The megalith tomb in winter File:Havet utanför Gnisvärd Gotland.jpg Part of the reef protecting the Viking Age harbor File:Stuga Gnisvärd.jpg Cottage north of the fishing village File:Gnisvärds kapell (3) Gotland.jpg Gnisvärd Chapel File:GotlandFiskelagen-Gnisvard-3.jpg Area for drying nets behind one of the rows of cottages
External links
*Gnisvärd Stone Ships, guide, photos and maps of the sites at Atlas Obscura. Accessed 8/2/2025 *Academic paper on the Gnisvärd stone ships, with maps and pictures (In Swedish with English summary)