A church with an eight-second reverberation, a post mill dating from 1899 and a shallow sea inlet that attracts large flocks of migrating birds in spring and autumn: Lau brings together remarkably varied cultural and natural features. You can explore its places and routes according to their particular focus—from settlement history and architecture to woodland landscapes and birdwatching.

Cultural landscapes and walking routes in Lau

The Lau backar cultural trail begins in the northeastern part of Laus backar. It combines beautiful views with a story about the history of the settlement community. In the northern part of Lausbackar, an old cultural landscape has been preserved, with Gotland’s largest system of enclosures. Near Bandeläins Täppu are Bronze Age ship settings, about 1.5 kilometres north of the church.

Botvidebackar also brings landscape and history together: there is a hillfort with a defensive ditch and bridge, probably dating from the Iron Age. The site has not been investigated. For a different kind of walk, the Lau section of the Östkustleden follows a dead-straight, approximately 1.5-kilometre-long enclosure road. It passes through old woodland, young woodland and a forest protected for its biotope, and leads to the bathing spot in Lau, just south of Tutens fiskeläge. The two routes have clearly different themes: the cultural trail combines views with settlement history, while the Östkustleden section offers woodland landscapes and a bathing destination. Check local conditions before setting out.

Church, defensive tower and windmills

At Lau Church, you can distinguish two architectural styles and periods: the nave is Romanesque and dates from around 1200; the chancel is Gothic and dates from around 1300. The church is also known for its eight-second reverberation time. Each of its five entrances has its own significance. Together, the architectural features, acoustics and entrances offer different ways to experience the church.

Lau defensive tower is a ruin from the 12th century. The ruins of a rectory adjoin its eastern side. The windmills, in turn, highlight construction methods and former uses. Botvide windmill is a post mill dating from 1899. In the past, grain was ground there into flour to meet the needs of the farm. Smiss windmill stands out for its unusual octagonal mill building, clad in shingles, and its onion-shaped cap. In total, six surviving windmills in Lau have been restored; the local heritage association maintains them.

At Masarbods fiskeläge, a restored old beach hut built using the Bult technique houses collections of simple objects from Lau’s fishing era. The historical themes in Lau thus complement one another: church architecture and ruins sit alongside mills and mementos of the fishing industry.

Lausviken and nature watching

Lau is an open agricultural landscape with opportunities for swimming and relaxation. Lausviken has a different character: this sea inlet is very shallow and attracts large flocks of migrating birds in spring and autumn. The birdlife at Lausviken is of national interest. Anyone interested in birds will find an observation tower in a coastal meadow near the sea, just north of the mouth of the Närkån. Check local conditions and facilities before your visit.

Places to stop and take a break

Kluckartäppu is a summer visitor site with an information board, seating for breaks and a small wildlife pond. Its seasonal focus gives it a distinctive place alongside the historic buildings and walking routes. Lau Käldu has a spring house, a basin, an information board and seating. People collect water there for cooking and drinking; check current water availability and facilities on site.

For the general travel overview: Gotland.