This cheerful resort was Gotland’s fist and makes a good centre for touring the southeast of the island. There was a harbour here long before Russian forces raided Ljugarn on their way to laying waste to the east coast of Sweden in 1714-18. By 1900, the small community, with its long sandy beach, limestone sea stacks and guesthouse, had become a popular bathing spot.

In Alskog, just outside Ljugarn, among fields of Bronze and Iron Age relics, is Gotlands Djurpak, a zoo of non-Nordic animals such as camels, zebras and kangaroos.

South of Ljugarn is the 13th-14th century Lau Kyrka. One of Gotland’s largest churches, it has a triumphal crucifix from the thirteenth century. Northwest of Ljugarn, Torsburgen fortress was built in the third or fourth century and is one of the largest of its kind in Scandinavia.