Flakfortet, meaning sand-shoal fortress, is a sea fort located on the artificially built island of Saltholmreb. Flakfortet was the last of three artificial islands that the Danes created to defend the entrance to Copenhagen's harbor (the other two are Trekroner Fort and Middelgrundsfortet). Eventually Flakfortet became more of a site for anti-aircraft weapons than for coastal artillery. Its military functions ended in 1968.
The fort was built in the years 1910–1914 as part of Copenhagen's sea-fortifications. The island is 23 meters high and covers 32,000 m2. Construction of the artificial island required the use of caissons of reinforced concrete, possibly the first use of such structures. The caissons were first cast at Lynetten quai on Refshale Island, thought the last was cast at Flakfortet itself.
Flakfortet is now used for recreational purposes such as concerts, and the site has a restaurant and yacht moorings. During the summer, a ferry company, Spar Shipping, has five scheduled trips per day to the island, with the trip from Nyhavn taking about 40 minutes each way. There is an overnight hostel on the island too.
References:Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.