Helsingborg

We traveled by train from Malmö to Helsingborg for the next stage in our trip. Mostly, this was just to see some more of both Sweden and Denmark.

Helsingborg occupies one of the most strategic geographical locations in Northern Europe. Situated at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the city is only 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the Danish coast. Like much of the Skåne region, Helsingborg was a vital part of the Danish kingdom for centuries and served as a fortified gateway controlling access to the Baltic Sea.

The city was the site of numerous battles between Sweden and Denmark before permanently becoming Swedish in 1658. This long military history is still etched into the landscape through the massive fortifications that once dominated the heights above the harbor.

We strolled astound the city, starting at the Terrasstrapporna, or the Terrace Steps. These grand stone stairs were completed in 1903 and lead from Stortorget up to the medieval plateau. At the summit stands Kärnan, a 35 meter (115 foot) tall brick tower that is the only remaining part of a much larger medieval fortress. Built in the early 14th century, the tower provided a defensive vantage point over the strait. From the top of the tower, visitors can see across the water to the spires of Helsingør in Denmark, illustrating exactly why this spot was so fiercely contested for nearly seven hundred years.

We dropped back down from Kärnan, had fika at Bruket kaffebar, and then walked along the Promenade, a long stretch of waterfront that defines the modern character of Helsingborg. This area, particularly around Norra Hamnen and the Gröningen park, serves as the city’s primary social space where residents gather for swimming and dining.Read more