The Hoburg Man

Gotland · Sverige · Stone formation

At the very end of Hoburgen, where limestone cliffs drop straight into the Baltic, stands a rauk that from the right angle is an old man's face: closed mouth, heavy brow. Gotlanders called him Hoburgsgubben and believed a giant lived inside the rock itself. One legend tells of a poor farming couple nearby who were visited by the giant; he claimed to have lived in the cliff for seven hundred years and struck a bargain with them over their future. Other versions have him demanding that passing ships salute him. Sailors rounding Hoburgen would take off their caps and call out a greeting, since forgetting was said to summon storm and shipwreck. At dusk, with seabirds screaming and swell hammering the cliff foot, the face is hard to look away from.

FAQ

Hvor ligger The Hoburg Man?

The Hoburg Man ligger i Gotland, Sverige.

Opplysningene bygger på lokal folketro og vitneskildringer.

Image: Ny Björn Gustafsson · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons