A quarter of today’s Trelleborgen fortress was built on its original site in the heart of the modern city. As an open-air museum in central Trelleborg, the site brings history to life in the midst of today’s urban landscape. Trelleborg is considered a historic coastal town on Skåne’s southern coast on the Baltic Sea—and combines cultural discoveries with seaside experiences.
Cultural history from the Viking Age to city life
The exhibition “Borgen vid havet” presents archaeological finds alongside reconstructed objects from Viking Age Söderslätt. The focus shifts at Trelleborg Museum: its permanent exhibitions cover the prehistory of Söderslätt and Trelleborg’s industrial history. Temporary exhibitions focus on art and cultural history. The museums therefore introduce you to different aspects of the region’s past, rather than focusing on just one era.
At Axel Ebbes Konsthall, you can see the artist’s studies and original plaster models, as well as designs for public sculptures and monuments. You can also discover Axel Ebbe’s work outside the art gallery: the artist’s public works are located in and around Trelleborg’s city park.
The oldest parts of the city lie around Gamla Torget. Trelleborg’s historic architecture also includes the red-brick S:t Nicolai kyrka. It is located north of the market square; its current appearance dates from a renovation carried out between 1881 and 1883. Sandmöllan completes the picture as Trelleborg’s only surviving windmill. The post mill dates from the 17th century.
Events also draw on the Viking Age. The Battle of Trelleborgen features a market, demonstrations, music, crafts and Viking games. Dates vary from year to year; check the latest dates if you want to plan your visit around the event. Since 1976, Palmfestivalen has also been held on the last weekend of August. Here, too, it is advisable to check the latest dates and programme before travelling.
Coast, nature and local specialities
Dalabadet is a seaside swimming area on the edge of Trelleborg. The beach has a sandy shore and large grassy areas. Maglarps sandtag, a municipal nature reserve, is also located near Trelleborg. Many solitary bees live there, and sand martins nest in the sand wall. A marked path leads to a bird-watching point; their nesting activity is seasonal.
Another place to discover nearby is Hallongården. The farm shop stocks around 25 different products, including juice, nectar, jam, glögg, vinegar and raspberry ketchup. The café serves berry specialities. In summer, you can pick raspberries yourself, depending on the harvest conditions.
Getting around during your stay
Trelleborg can be reached by car, public transport or ferry. Trains run from here to Malmö, Lund and Helsingborg; for much of the day, they run every half hour. As timetables can change, check connections before departure.
Cyclists can use two different routes for guidance: the main route of the national Sydkustleden cycling trail passes through Trelleborg. The Sverigeleden cycling route starts at Kontinentgatan, opposite the main railway station. This distinction helps you choose between following a route whose main section passes through Trelleborg and starting at a specific point in the city.
In summer, Palmtåget, a free hop-on hop-off train, runs daily between Trelleborg’s attractions. As this is a seasonal service, check operating times for your travel date. Another way to connect Trelleborg with a longer route is the pilgrim trail to Dalby: it starts in Trelleborg’s monastery garden and is part of the pilgrimage route between Santiago de Compostela and Nidaros.
Discover more destinations: Böste Trelleborg, Anderslöv, Beddingestrand, Gislöv, Smygehamn, Trelleborg, Bosarp, Klagstorp, Svedala, Alstad.
For the wider travel overview: SkĂĄne.
