Kärnan – Helsingborg’s Medieval Fortress
Helsingborg sits on the coast of Øresund, the sound leading into the Baltic Sea. Today, the city is part of Skåne, or Scania, a region in southern Sweden. Four hundred years ago, Helsingborg was part of Denmark. Remnants of that time can still be found, most notably Kärnan.
Kärnan dates back to the 13th century, although until the 1890s it had been allowed to fall into ruins. Today, the fortress has been restored and looks out over the city of Helsingborg and Øresund. The tower was once part of the larger Helsingborg Castle which was later destroyed by the Swedish for fear that it was too exposed to possible attacks. Kärnan was allowed to stand, and now the 35 meter high tower gives a wonderful look at the history, especially military, of Helsingborg. Plus, hiking to the top gives you a beautiful view.
On clear days, you can see right over to Denmark and Kronborg, the castle which, along with Kärnan, helped the Danes control the waterway to the Baltic. Kronborg is also the castle setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
The medieval fortress is open to the public all year (except for Mondays and some holidays). Check the website (in Swedish) for open times because they do vary depending on the season. You can check out the first floor of the tower for free, but if you want to hike to the top it will cost you 20-30 SEK.
