Kärnan Fortress

Around 1150, Waldemar I had a sandstone castle built on this site. The originally round main tower was replaced by a square one around 1225. The current brick tower was constructed around 1320, possibly commissioned by Erik VI, who celebrated his wedding here in 1296. The complex developed into one of Denmark's most important fortresses and served as a residence for many kings, including Christoph III, who died here in 1448. It was also crucial for collecting the Sound Dues. The fortress included an inner curtain wall with battlements, an entrance tower with a drawbridge, and an elongated building. Another curtain wall, 500 meters away, with 14 towers and a deep moat, further protected the complex. With the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, the castle fell to Sweden. After the Scanian War, King Charles XI decided to demolish the fortress, as its military importance had diminished and he feared its use by invaders. Only the Kärnan tower remained, to serve as a beacon and symbolize Swedish rule over Scania. After more than 200 years of decay, the tower was restored in 1893/94, and a large staircase to Stortorget was added in 1903.

The Kärnan fortress remains is located in Helsingborg, in the Helsingborg district, in the Skåne region of Sweden, at an elevation of approximately 29 m above sea level.

The remains of the fortress are now accessible to visitors and can be explored.

• Pålsjö Castle (Castle), approx. 2.5 km away
• Sofiero Castle (Castle), approx. 4.6 km away
• Kronborg Castle (Castle), approx. 4.8 km away
• Marienlyst Castle (Castle), approx. 6.0 km away