Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
4 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
5 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Sweden Gislövshammar Gislövshammar

Gislövshammar

These mysterious circular formations are actually remnants of 19th century gristmills.

Gislövshammar, Sweden

Added By
Henrik Johansson
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Gislönvshammar Millstone Mine   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Gislönvshammar Millstone Mine   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Gislönvshammar Millstone Mine   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
Gislönvshammar Millstone Mine   hrnick / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Walking along the shoreline outside of this small village in the south of Sweden will reveal a number of odd, circular formations above and under the water. 

What would probably have been a sign of an ancient alien civilization in any given science fiction movie does, however, have a much more down-to-earth explanation. The limestone rocks in the shoreline were once the perfect material for making millstones for nearby gristmills. The layered stone was easily accessible for mining and the millstones were made to measure before they were sent off to their destinations.

The mining stopped in the last decades of the 19th century, but the mysterious-looking holes from the finished stones can still be seen today, as well as a few stones that were never finished.

Related Tags

Rocks Mines Nature Holes Geology

Community Contributors

Added By

hrnick

Edited By

CoolCrab, aribrown

  • CoolCrab
  • aribrown

Published

September 28, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisl%C3%B6vshammar
  • http://www2.visitystadosterlen.se/sv/se-gora/a321262/gislovshammar_321262/detaljer
  • http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/sarskilt-vardefulla-kulturmiljoer-i-skane/simrishamn/Pages/Ornahusen-Skillinge-Gislovshammar-Brantevik.aspx
  • http://www.osterlen.com/samhallen/gislov.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millstone
Gislövshammar
2320 GISLÖVSHAMMAR
Gislövshammar, 272 92
Sweden
55.486571, 14.318887
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Simrislundsristningen (Simrislund Carvings)

Simrishamn, Sweden

miles away

Prästens Badkar (The Priests Bathtub)

Simrishamn, Sweden

miles away

Ales Stenar

Ystad, Sweden

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sweden

Sweden

Europe

Places 381
Stories 42

Nearby Places

Simrislundsristningen (Simrislund Carvings)

Simrishamn, Sweden

miles away

Prästens Badkar (The Priests Bathtub)

Simrishamn, Sweden

miles away

Ales Stenar

Ystad, Sweden

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sweden

Sweden

Europe

Places 381
Stories 42

Related Places

  • Mexican Hat

    Mexican Hat, Utah

    Mexican Hat

    This balancing rock is one of Utah's most unusual geological formations.

  • Mina de Mármol

    Cuatrociénegas, Mexico

    Mina de Mármol

    A former travertine mine traces the geological history of this unique desert filled with crystalline blue pools.

  • Ruggles Mine

    Grafton, New Hampshire

    Ruggles Mine

    Generations of rockhounds got their start at this beloved, historic mine.

  • Remains of old Mill demolished years ago

    Twisp, Washington

    Alder Mine

    Gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc were once extracted at this abandoned mine near Lookout Mountain.

  • Rock Art Trail

    Grapevine, Texas

    Parr Park Rock Trail

    In Parr Park, thousands of painted rocks line this walking trail.

  • The Arch

    Ajo, Arizona

    Arch Canyon Trail

    A strenuous, unofficial trail leads to spectacular views in one of America's most remote national monuments.

  • Halldórsskora (Elephant Rock)

    Heimaey, Iceland

    Halldórsskora (Elephant Rock)

    On an island south of Iceland, a large volcanic rock formation resembles an elephant.

  • Boulders.

    Glenduan, New Zealand

    Boulder Bank

    An unusual snaking bank of boulders caused by longshore drift.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.