The name Höganäs itself reaches far back into the past: the place was once called Höjeness, a name already documented in sources from the 15th century. Coal mining began here in the late 17th century, followed around 1830 by the production of everyday ceramic items with lead glaze. Exploring Höganäs means encountering a history that stretches from the earliest records of its name through mining to the craft of ceramics.
Industrial history in the townscape
The Höganäs Museum is dedicated to the history, culture and industrial heritage of the Kullahalvön peninsula. It collects, preserves and displays objects relating to industry, folk life, crafts, and artistic and other cultural activities on the peninsula. This means that Höganäs’s story encompasses everyday life and culture as well as production.
In the Höganäs nedre area near Sundstorget, historic street layouts, property boundaries and parts of the built environment have been preserved. Höganäs Övre offers a different urban character: at Gruvtorget, an open square within a grid plan and the former factory’s central buildings, grouped around it, define the historic surroundings.
The Tivolibunken slag heap is located by the old Brorsbacke mine shaft. Tivolihuset was built on it in 1899. The two-storey building has richly decorated façades and faces Tivolivången. It originally housed a theatre hall, a library, a restaurant, municipal administration offices and a caretaker’s apartment. These former uses give the building a distinctive connection to culture and public life.
Ceramics, exhibitions and cinema
You can visit Keramiskt center in Höganäs. KKAM Ateljé offers ceramics courses at various levels and in different formats, introductory sessions, semester-long and intensive courses, and workshops. There are also activities for children and schools. Companies, groups of friends and hen parties can also book the studio for workshop activities.
KKAM’s annual November Salon is an exhibition curated by a jury. It features painting, ceramics, textiles, drawings, photography, graphic art and other forms of artistic expression. If you would like to plan your visit around the exhibition, check the specific dates.
Biograf Saga, considered one of Sweden’s oldest cinemas, is housed in the former Hotel Schweiz, built in 1883. Films are still shown there; as the programme may change, it is worth checking the current listings before a visit. Kulturhus Höganäs includes a library, an exhibition hall, a stage, a café and meeting rooms.
You can also discover production in other ways: Höganäs Bryggeri at Salthallarna offers tours of its production facilities and beer tastings. Kakboden is a traditional bakery and confectionery in the town centre, with its own bakery; its offerings include freshly baked rolls, cakes, pastries and sandwiches.
Routes and nature around Höganäs
For hiking, the Kullaleden offers a longer route: this 70-kilometre trail is part of the SL 5 section of Skåneleden, which circles the Kullahalvön peninsula, and runs from Helsingborg via Höganäs, Kullaberg and Arild to Utvälinge. By comparison, the approximately seven-kilometre Trädslingan starts at Höganäs Town Hall. The two routes differ considerably in length.
There is also a specific distance for cycling: the Kattegattleden section between Helsingborg and Höganäs is 22 kilometres long. Its surface consists of 96 percent paved route and 4 percent gravel. The Höganäs settlement also has nature areas close to the built-up area, home to numerous rare plants and insects. The area around the historic slag heaps has developed into a popular local recreation area with a diverse birdlife.
The nearby Kullaberg Nature Reserve offers another connection with nature, outside the immediate Höganäs locality. Marked trails lead from the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula towards Arild or Mölle. The nearby Naturum Kullaberg features an exhibition with seawater aquariums and information from knowledgeable nature guides.
Discover more destinations: Höganäs, Jonstorp, Nyhamnsläge, Arild, Viken, Mölle, Lerberget, Farhult.
Go to the main travel overview: Skåne.
