North War
The last major military clash between Denmark and Sweden beyond Skåne occurred during the Northern War. By the end of the 17th century, the states neighboring Sweden - Denmark, Russia and Poland - had grown stronger and were thirsting for revenge. Eventually they made an agreement and attacked Swedish lands. Denmark to Holstein, Poland to Livonia, and Russia to Estonia.
Sweden, however, quickly repelled the attack, but the young king Charles XII made a mistake. He decided to teach the Polish king a lesson and force him to abdicate the throne. The war in Poland lasted for six years, during which time Peter I built St. Petersburg and a navy. So when Swedish troops moved from Poland to Smolensk, they met serious resistance. The Swedes were stuck near Poltava and Denmark again invaded Skåne.
Magnus Stenbock
On the main square of Helsingborg there is a monument to Magnus Stenbock, a direct participant in the Northern War. In 1706 he was appointed governor of Skåne. Having received news that Denmark had begun military preparations, Stenbock organized the defense of the province. He managed to defend the province in the battle of Helsingborg in 1710 and won. For this victory, Stenbock was promoted to field marshal. In December 1712 he defeated the Danes at Gadebusch, but was captured, where he died on February 23, 1717.
Interesting description of the city.
The city is located in the southern part of the country, it is a major commercial port, industrial and transport center. The first mention of Helsingborg dates back to the beginning of the 11th century.
Since the city has an advantageous commercial and strategic location, its territory was of particular interest to many large states. In the 13th century, the Danes built a fortress in the central part of the city, with the help of which they controlled access to the Baltic Sea. The city suffered greatly during the Danish-Swedish war; it was annexed to Swedish territory in 1710, by which time Helsingborg was almost completely in ruins. Immediately after the end of the war, a plague epidemic hit the city, killing thousands of local residents. After the tragic events, Helsingborg recovered only in the second half of the 19th century; it began to develop in the field of trade, several metallurgical plants and ceramics factories were opened.
Despite the enormous destruction, the city managed to preserve several ancient buildings. Today in the old district you can see St. Mary's Church, the Town Hall building and the Kernan Tower. Also worth visiting are the Fredriksdal Museum, the Henry Duncker Cultural Center and the Jacob Hansen House. But the most unusual cultural center remains the Open Air Museum, which covers a fairly impressive territory. There are spacious parks, gardens, farms and ancient houses.
One of the oldest buildings in the city is the Jacob Hazen House; it was built in 1641. The beautiful building in the national style has managed to almost completely preserve its original appearance. Today, a hotel is opened within the walls of the historical building, and there is a restaurant on the ground floor. The historic hotel is notable for its large conference center and is often chosen for important business events.
An architectural monument of a later period is the Villa of Consul Persson, its construction was completed in 1848. Initially, the luxurious villa belonged to one of the wealthy local counts, and in 1916 the building came under the jurisdiction of the city government. In the first half of the 20th century, the building housed the offices of one of the large companies, and after that there was a music school. Currently, the historical building belongs to the University of Helsingborg.
While walking along the Northern Harbor, you can visit the Dunker House of Culture; it is impressive in scale and offers visitors a lot of interesting entertainment. Various cultural and entertainment events are held here every day, including special programs for children. A significant part of the area is allocated for exhibitions, and there is also a popular restaurant and bar in the cultural center. It is most interesting to visit the cultural center during various festivals and national holidays.
Fans of historical sights will definitely love the ancient Sofier Castle; it was once the residence of the royal family. The very first castle in its place was built in the early Middle Ages; by the mid-19th century it was almost completely in ruins. By 1865, the fortress was reconstructed, at that time its owner was Prince Oscar. At the end of the 19th century, a luxurious garden was laid out around the castle; it has not ceased to amaze with its beauty for more than a hundred years.
One of the many historical and architectural landmarks of the Swedish city of Helsingborg is St. Mary's Church, built in the Romanesque style in the 1100s. In the 1400s, the monastery building was replaced by a new one, built of brick in the classical Gothic style. Several sand blocks of the old temple were used during construction. In 1500, a stair tower was added to St. Mary's Church. In 1953, the monastery was reconstructed according to the designs of the famous architect Karl Bruns. As a result, it was turned into a beautiful basilica with three naves. In 1953, the temple ceased to fulfill its direct role, and in 2002 the building was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The beautiful church font, made of gray limestone in the 1600s, remains to this day. Also presented to tourists is an altar, the door of which is decorated with images of scenes from the life of Mary and Jesus. The old church organ, stained glass windows, as well as the richly decorated staircases and doors of the monastery deserve special attention. Currently, access to the temple is open to everyone.
Ramlosa brunnshotell building
One of the many architectural attractions of Helsingborg is the Ramlö sa brunnshotell building, located near the mineral springs. Its characteristic feature is that it is entirely made of wood. Its front panels are painted white, and most of the architectural details are decorated with decorative paintings.
Ramlö sa brunnshotell was built in 1807 and has undergone several renovations throughout its history. The last one was carried out between 2005 and 2006. As a result, the interior and exterior decoration were completely updated, the roof was also repaired and the window frames were replaced.
The hotel's porch is decorated with rare Moorish ornaments. Adjacent to the building from the east and west are two glass pavilions, which once housed greenhouses. Previously, the hotel was extremely popular due to the nearby mineral springs; influential people of Helsingborg often stayed here. In the post-war period, about 13,000 refugees stayed at the hotel.
Currently, Ramlö sa brunnshotell acts as a tourist attraction and does not fulfill its direct functions.
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Dunker House of Culture
One of the many cultural and architectural attractions of the Swedish city of Helsingborg is the Dunker House of Culture, located in North Harbor. It has a large exhibition hall, as well as a stage where various cultural events for children and youth are held. The total area of the House of Culture is 10,600 square meters, about 3,200 square meters are allocated for exhibitions. There is a bar, restaurant and shop on site. It received its name in honor of Henry Duncker, the founder of the charitable foundation, who played an important role in its construction. The grand opening of the complex took place on April 27, 2002 with the participation of Princess Victoria.
It now hosts large-scale events, festivals and symposiums annually in the fields of performing arts, music, dance and theatre. The architecture of the complex deserves special attention - the building is made in a neoclassical style with some Baroque elements.
One of the many attractions of Helsingborg is the parish church of Gustav Adolf, located in the city center surrounded by business and shopping centers. Construction of the temple began in 1893 and lasted about 5 years. Construction work was estimated at $250,000. In 1897, the temple was consecrated by Wilhelm Flensburg, bishop of the diocese of Lund. The Church of Gustav Adolf is in the neo-Gothic style, its pedestal is made of light granite, and at the heart of the structure is a 67-meter cross. The building is single-nave, with a high copper spire, clock tower and bell tower, its façade is decorated with decorative brick and stucco.
Once inside, you find yourself in a spacious hall, the floor of which is covered with Victorian tiles. In its right corner is an ancient marble altar, and behind it is a crystal cross, custom-made in Stockholm. Every year, many tourists come to the parish church of Gustav Adolf to enjoy the unique medieval architecture. Not far from the temple there is a cozy square where you can relax after sightseeing.
Helsingborg Concert Hall
One of the most popular recreational places in the Swedish city of Helsingborg is the Concert Hall, which hosts various cultural events - from classical music concerts to small amateur performances. Jazz evenings, as well as concert programs with musical hits of the 60s and 80s, are especially popular. The history of the Concert Hall building dates back to 1927. Its design was carried out by the famous Swedish architect Sven Markelius.
Initially, the building was planned to be built in the traditional classical style, but under European influence it was decided to rebuild the Concert Hall in the Art Nouveau style, which in Sweden is commonly called functionalism. Externally, the building is finished in plaster and consists of simple geometric shapes - from a semicircular entrance to a square hall. Large windows and high ceilings make the venue's lobby feel bright and airy. The capacity of the Concert Hall is 840 people, and there is also a cinema on the territory of the complex with a capacity of 240 people.
In 1997, the Concert Hall building was included in the list of architectural landmarks of Helsingborg.
Construction of Terrastrapporna
One of the many architectural attractions of Helsingborg is the Terrasstrapporna structure, which is a terrace with stairs connecting the main square of Konsul Trapps with the medieval fortress Residence Tower, located on a small hill. The structure was built in 1899 - 1903 according to the design of the famous architect Gustav Amin. In 2002, by decision of local authorities, the Terrasstrapporna building was included in the list of “Especially valuable buildings in Helsingborg”.
Stylistically, the design consists of two parts. The lower part is built of granite in a neo-Baroque style, while the upper part is built of brick and has pronounced medieval elements. At the base of the stairs there are small decorative arches, and above them there are beautiful artificial waterfalls. To the south of the terrace there is a tunnel leading to an elevator that takes tourists to a height of 33 meters to an observation deck, from where a beautiful city panorama opens.
Thousands of tourists from all over the world come to this place every year, and it occupies places on the covers of many city guidebooks. In 2010, a minor reconstruction of the structure was carried out, during which the brickwork of the upper tier was partially renewed.
Palace Sofiero
Sofieru is one of Helsingborg's many landmarks and formerly the palace of the Swedish royal family. It was originally a dilapidated building called Skabelücke, which was acquired by Crown Prince Oscar in 1864. The reconstruction of the palace was completed in 1865, and it acquired its modern appearance after Oscar's accession to the throne in 1876. In 1879, a wonderful rhododendron garden was laid out on the territory adjacent to the palace, thanks to which the building gained its popularity. Until 1950, Sofier Palace was the favorite residence of King Gustav VI Adolf, who after his death bequeathed the building to Helsingborg.
In 1965, a major reconstruction of the building was carried out, as a result of which the interior and exterior decoration were completely renewed. Despite this, the appearance of the castle has remained unchanged since its construction - it is a building built in the classical Gothic style, with two rectangular turrets on the sides, topped with pointed roofs. The local park has a small exhibition hall of contemporary art.
Every year, Sofierou Palace attracts many tourists from all over the world, enchanting them with its architecture and flowering gardens.
Consul Persson's Villa
One of the most popular architectural attractions of Helsingborg is Consul Persson's Villa. It was built in 1848 for Count Gustav von Essen according to the design of the famous German architect Friedrich Hetsch. The building received its current name in honor of the entrepreneur, politician and consul Nilsson Persson, who lived in the villa from 1883 to 1916. After his death, the building housed the offices of the Affä rsverken company, and then functioned as a music school. Currently, the campus of the student association of the University of Helsingborg is located here.
The appearance of Consul Persson's Villa has remained unchanged since its construction. It is a luxurious three-story structure with a pronounced protruding façade. The second floor has huge arched windows, making it always brighter here than in the rest of the mansion. Previously, there was a front room with access to a luxurious balcony, made in classic Italian style. The central entrance to the building is decorated with massive Doric columns, and on the ground floor of the villa there is a small restaurant. Every year many tourists from all over the world come here to admire the structure and the surrounding park.
When traveling around the province of Skåne, you should definitely visit the ancient port city of Helsingborg, whose cozy streets will not leave anyone indifferent. By the way, it is in Helsingborg that the oldest pedestrian street in Sweden, Kullagatan, is located - there are many shops and fashion boutiques on it.
A beautiful beach with white sand, sun loungers, wooden decks and palm trees stretches along the entire city. Beach shower, play areas, bar - all the attributes of a tropical summer are in place. A classic pastime for locals and tourists is watching the ferries connecting Helsingborg with the Danish city of Helsingør, which is only 5 kilometers away across the Øresund Strait.
The city has several interesting churches, historical sights, an ancient lighthouse and pilot station, and spacious parks. On the outskirts of Helsingborg is the former residence of the Swedish kings - the famous Sofiero slott. Sofiera is open to visitors all year round and hosts many events of interest to tourists: festivals, exhibitions, musician performances and other events. The castle is surrounded by a huge park with a collection of plants from different regions of the planet. There are more than 10 thousand bushes of 500 different varieties of flowering rhododendrons around Sofier alone! In 2010, Sofierou Castle Park was awarded the title of the most beautiful in Europe. In the summer, concerts are held in the park's clearings, and locals and tourists come here for picnics. There is a café, restaurant and souvenir shop on the grounds of Sofierou Castle.
In the center of the city stands the Kärnan watchtower - all that remains of the once mighty 14th-century castle. There is an observation deck at the top of the tower, and from a height of 35 meters you can see the city and the Danish coast on the other side of Øresund.
Helsingborg is also home to one of Sweden's largest open-air museums, Fredriksdal, which offers tourists a journey through the old city quarters, farms, parks and botanical gardens, and immersion in the atmosphere of bygone times.
Helsingborg is one of the cities in Sweden with the largest number of restaurants. Here tourists can choose between exotic food from around the world or traditional Swedish home cooking with local ingredients, and try both inexpensive street food and gourmet dishes. For example, the fish restaurant Sillen & Makrillen ("Herring and Mackerel"), located right on the seashore, offers not only the freshest seafood dishes, but also a magnificent view of the sunset. Snacks at this popular establishment start from SEK 135 (EUR 14) and main courses from SEK 199 (EUR 21).
Helsingborg offers many hostels, hotels and campsites (the latter is especially important for tourists traveling by car). Excellent hotels are located in the historic center of Helsingborg, and there are pastoral rural inns outside the city. You can book a hotel in Helsingborg.
Travelers can find all the necessary information to plan walks around the city and surrounding area at the tourist information center at Kungsgatan 11. Here, guests of Helsingborg receive brochures and maps, book excursions and buy souvenirs.
Why go
If only for the sake of boarding the ferry going to Helsingår and seeing Kronborg Castle from the water. But believe me, in good weather, a walk around the city will give you incomparable pleasure, especially if you are a sea soul! The view of the bay and the city from the height of the medieval tower is worth it!
How to get there
1. by train from Copenhagen to Malmö and from there via Lund to Helsingborg;
2. by ferry across the Oresund Strait from Helsingor.
The travel agency is located opposite the station - in the Town Hall building.
Story
The Danish chronicle first mentioned the city in 1085, and by the beginning of the 13th century, on the top of the hill overlooking the city, there was already a powerful fortress - a twin of Krogen Castle, standing across the strait. Both citadels, belonging to Denmark, controlled access to the Baltic Sea. In 1362, a bloody battle took place in the strait - the first Battle of Helsingborg - between the Danish fleet and the ships of the Hanseatic League, which ended in victory for the Danes. In the 1400s At the foot of the fortress, the Church of St. Mary was founded; in 1641, not far from the church, the house of Jacob Hansen was built (it has survived to this day and is now the oldest building in the city).
In 1707, local physician Johan Jakob Dobelius opened Sweden's first spa resort, Ramlösa, based on local mineral springs, which is still in operation today.
In 1710, in the Second Battle of Helsingborg, the Swedes defeated the Danes, but at too high a cost - after the bombing (now you can’t tell whose), the city was completely destroyed, and there was no one to clean up the bodies of the dead residents. The wells were poisoned, a plague outbreak broke out, and Helsingborg only went to the middle of the 19th century.
In 1891, the inventor of galoshes, Henry Duncker, opened a rubber factory here and the first galoshes rolled off the assembly line. A year later, a ferry service was opened between the Danish and Swedish coasts, a tram line was built in 1903, and the country's first theater was opened in 1921.
What to watch
Coming out of the railway station building, you will immediately see not only the vast expanse of the sea and the yachts-ships standing at the pier, but also the City Hall (1897), in the neo-Gothic style, similar to a real castle.
At 3 and 6 p.m., the clock on top plays cheerful melodies, and the stained glass windows depict events from the city's history. There is a travel agency on the ground floor.
At the foot of the hill is the red brick Church of St. Mary, clearly rebuilt in the taste of the Lutherans, nearby is the half-timbered house of Jacob Hansen, the oldest building in the city (1641).
An ancient Scandinavian legend attributes the founding of the castle to the mythical king Fróði, but there is no evidence for this, but it is reliably known that in the 13th century. The castle already stood here, and in the Middle Ages it was one of the most important fortresses in Denmark, controlling access to the Baltic Sea. In 1658, the castle, along with the Skåne region, passed to the Swedes, in 1676 the Danes took it, hoisting a 17*7 meter Danish flag on the tower - it was later captured by the Swedish army and is now kept in the Stockholm Army Museum. Fearing that the Danes might again capture the fortress, King Charles XI ordered the destruction of the castle fortifications, the rest was completed by the townspeople, stealing most of the buildings for their own needs. In the end, there was only one tower left, to which we climbed a long staircase, passing through an arch that was reminiscent of the citadels built by the Medici.
At the top there is a nice garden, from where the whole city is at a glance, and a museum - as we understand, on the site of a former Dominican monastery. True, we didn’t understand how to get there.
Sofier Palace is located 5 km from Helsingborg.
http://www.sofiero.helsingborg.se
Helsingborg - Helsingor
“...there are ferries everywhere. And what! ...It’s strange to apply this term with purely rural allusions to a four-deck ship one and a half hundred meters long, for two and a half thousand passengers, with restaurants, cafes, shops, slot machines, TV rooms...”
Peter Weil "Genius of the place"
"Helsingor - Helsingborg. The most navigable fairway in the world. Small passenger ferries, train ferries, a huge harbor of pleasure yachts, container ships. A ship passes here every three minutes. There is no other place like it. The Strait of Messina, I've been there many times, it's nonsense. This is really a strait. And in weather like now, there is interference on the radar - here you are floating as if on a submarine in milk soup.”
Peter Hoeg "Mistress Smilla and her sense of snow"
I have never sailed on a ferry - firstly, I don’t like group tours “running three countries in 4 days”, and secondly, I get motion sickness and I try to stay away from transport that makes me sick a lot. True, after I didn’t get seasick at all on the Swiss lakes, the hope that I would one day survive a cruise to Bora Bora began to grow stronger, and when we realized that the consequence of the ideal timetable of the Danish railways was a whole free day, and we can drive along the western Swedish coast and return to Denmark via Helsingor, I didn’t hesitate for a minute - I could test how I would feel on board the ferry.
After exploring the Old Town of Helsingborg and admiring it from the height of the tower, we again went down to the harbor and the railway station, which has a pier for ferries - on the right side of the station, if you go from the railway tracks, up the escalator. The box office is right there. Ferries leave every 20 minutes, and the journey time is also about 20 minutes. Our passes were free, but we still asked the cashier at the window if we owed anything. Having heard that they shouldn’t, they stood in line, which by that time had already lined up for boarding. It seems that for the local population, crossing the strait is as common a thing as, say, for a Muscovite, a couple of stops on the metro: one guy was transporting empty bottles to Denmark - go and hand them over They presented tickets (no one was surprised, apparently they often travel with such things), sat on the bow to see everything better. The turbines began to tremble underfoot, the ferry set off, and the Danish coast with Kronborg became ever closer... From the ferry you can especially see how the castle stands in an open field, and behind it is the city that this castle protects...
“In winter, ships do not sail, the sea freezes right up to the Swedish coast, and a real road is established. Danish and Swedish flags flutter along it, and the Swedes and Danes also say to each other: “We wish you good health!” and “Thank you!”, but not with cannon shots, but simply, shaking each other’s hands in a friendly manner, and some send ashore to others for rolls and pretzels, because other people’s food is always sweeter!”
H.K. Andersen "Holger the Dane"
After about half an hour we were back in Helsingor, and how familiar this Danish town seemed to us! It was as if I had lived here for several years - everything seemed familiar and almost familiar It was already getting dark when we returned to Copenhagen, and tomorrow a plane to Moscow was waiting for us...
