13/09/2026
DAY4 - today we visited the Gotland museum and after that, we had a really nice walking tour in the old town of Visby led by Riina Noodapera, an honorary consul of Estonia, an Estonian woman born and raised in Sweden.
Already in the Bunge museum we saw some very interesting carved stones. At the museum, they explained the story behind the picture stones which were erected in the Gotlandic landscape during the Iron Age:
“We have but scanty knowledge of their function, or of the impetus that spurred their creation.
The shape, location and symbols lead us to believe that the picture stones had something to do with esteem, remembrance and religion.
The stones were erected as monoliths or in groups of several stones. They were all placed in locations frequented by many people. The earliest stones are often found at burial sites, and in conjunction with the graves.
The symbols would seem to pertain to burial customs and the cult of the dead. Viking Age stones were placed beside roads and bridges, and may have served as memories of people, stories and traditions, never to be forgotten.
It goes without saying that not anybody and everybody could hire a stone carver. Picture stones were undoubtedly the privilege of well-to-do farmers connected with farming and trading.”
Tomorrow we will tour around Södertalje, in the mainland Sweden. Stay tuned for more fun pictures while we are discovering this ancient island of Gotland.
I am cordially inviting craft loving people to Estonia next summer. We will start in April 2027 touring Romania, in June we learn to knit in Latvian style enjoying luxury lifestyle in Latvian Manor Houses. The rest of the summer is for Estonian crafts and marvelous places in Estonia: Haapsalu, the islands, Pärnu and much more.
Let me know if you would like to be in our mailing list, to hear first about the next year's dates. Thank you!
More info here at our home page nordicknitters dot com /handicraft-tours/
Best wishes,
Külli
LIST:
Craft and Culture Tour in ROMANIA
April 26 - May 4, 2027
Craft and Culture Tour to TRANSILVANIA, RO
May 7-15, 2027
A Fiber Artist Retreat - a Wool Study Tour of Estonian Mills, Farms and Crafters
May 26-29, 2027
Magnificent Mitten Knitting and Manors of Latvia Tour
June 4-12, 2027
Handicraft tour to Estonian Islands - Saaremaa, Muhu, Kihnu
June 25 - July 2, 2027
Handicraft Tour to Ruhnu Island and Pärnu County, ESTONIA
July 7-14, 2027
Handicraft Tour to Valga County, ESTONIA
July 23-30, 2027
Handicraft Tour to Setoland, ESTONIA
August 3-8, 2027
Haapsalu Lace Knitting Tour, ESTONIA
August 11-18, 2027
Fabric and Belt Weaving Craft Tour to Lake Peipsi, ESTONIA
August 26 - September 1, 2027
