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We turn back to the 9th century. Visby is still a quite insignificant place, lack of qualities as safe harbour as nearby Gustafsvik or southbound, Paviken..
According to some sources there was a small log house at the location of “The Bishops Bath” (our 19th century house). The whole block was a small centre of the up-growing Visby. During the 12th century more obvious evidence is presented of a former cluster of buildings (some, as you can see, still there!). The Hotel´s cellars are dated the early 12th century, and the present walls the beginning of the 14th.
The church of The Holy Spirit is probably the former Saint James church, named in ancient chronicles, yet not stated archeologically. Saint James (Jacob, Yago) was the protector of the pilgrims, and it was on this very location, here in Visby, that Albert Bishop of Riga in the year of 1199 gathered pilgrims and knights of the Knights of the Livonian Order (or Brethren of the sword).
The name itself, of The Holy Spirit, is of later origin - the 17th century, however the church is with its octagonal three floor construction, more like the estate churches found in Europe during the 12th century, than the Holy Spirit churches that came later and were more plain. The architecture is inspired by the palace chapel of Charles I in Aachen, the very same Charles that was crowned king in Rome in AD 800. (And his inspiration was The Church of The Resurrection, in Jerusalem.)
Contemporary sources are telling us that the sisters of the Cistercian Order lived here during the 14th century. Later, the houses became hospital and our hotel was lodging the hospital preacher´s family.
The hotels “new” part was built in the 18th century and used as hospital and “Heiligen Geist” inn a function of caretaking for poor, sick and also paying elder citizens or guests as pilgrims or just travellers, until 1946 when a third reconstruction was made by the Chief military forces command of Gotland.
Until 2003 the buildings were used as offices, and 2006 is the year where we eventually close the circle; to re-applicate its legacy and atmospheres from the 14th and 18th centuries.
Truly, this is a unique house, its message has been the same for 800 years; Welcome.
Albert of Rigas Chamber
In March 1199, Albert of Riga gathered what was to become the Livonian brothers of the sword, in the strategic location that Visby offered. Albert Buxhoeveden (1165-1229) was dean in the German town of Bremen, and was sent by his uncle Hartwig, archbishop of Bremen and Hamburg, to Christian the Baltic people, however also with some land conquers as bonus result. During the spring of 1200 he led 23 ships and 1500 armed crusaders. On Gotland, Albert established an assembly location – most likely in our neighbourhood – and assisted by Gotlanders - he founded Riga in 1201, the capital of today´s Latvia. Later Albert became Bishop of Livonia and the brotheren’s were included in the Teutonic Order in 1237.
Kristina and Petrus Chamber
Petrus da Dacia was prior in the Dominician convent of Saint Nicolas in Visby during the later 13th century. He is often spoken of as “Sweden´s first author” thanks to his documented correspondence with Kristina of Strumbelen or Stromelen (near Köln). His addition name Dacia is a medieval signification of the Scandinavian countries. The undertone in Kristina´s and Petrus´s letters insinuates a restrained love, that in contemporary culture, remained, as far as we know, platonic.
The Italian envoy´s Chamber
During the middle of the 13th century, Visby was one of the most important trade harbours in the Baltic Sea. Envoys from near and far visited the Haneatic town and many languages bounced between lime stone walls, echoing in the narrow alleys. We believe that the Italian envoy was here on a mission by pope Nicolaus III (born as Giovanni Gaetano Orsini) 1277 to meet the Bishop Henry that was visiting the island to mediate. The envoy had several puposes to his visit to Visby as he also erpresented trade comunities from Umbria, in what later should be known as Italy. This can, on the other hand, be totally romanced about.
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