Holding the title of Sweden’s southernmost town, Trelleborg is an important ferry port overlooking the Baltic Sea. In the 13th century, it was presented as a wedding gift from the Danish royals to Sweden’s Prince Valdemar, only to later be taken by the Danes. In 1658, it became part of Sweden once again with the signing of the Treaty of Roskilde.
Things to do in Trelleborg
In the heart of town is the Trelleborgs Museum, which brings to life the history of Skåne through cultural artefacts and artwork. In the Eye to Eye exhibition, you can learn about the people who lived here in days gone by, including the Viking Vannhög and the 7000-year-old Skateholmarna. After visiting the museum, why not enjoy a stroll through the adjacent Trelleborg City Park.
Also not to miss is the Trelleborgs Maritime Museum, which displays documents, objects and photographs detailing the history of seafaring and fishing in the town. See intricately detailed models of historic steamships and modern ferries, then learn about the importance of commercial fishing to the town since the Middle Ages.
A short walk from the Trelleborgs Maritime Museum will take you to Trelleborgen, a reconstruction of a ring castle that stood here in the Viking Age. The on-site museum details the 1988 excavations that resulted in the fortification’s discovery, as well as its reconstruction using traditional tools that included axes and knives. Throughout the year, Trelleborgen hosts Viking games, markets and a midsummer celebration.
Getting around Trelleborg
Trelleborg is around 30 minutes’ drive from Malmö and 25 minutes from Malmö Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Trelleborg Central railway station while ferries travel from Lithuania, Poland and Germany. The centre of Trelleborg can easily be explored on foot.