Hässleholm is a town in the province of Skåne in southern Sweden. It is a fairly new town, with only a little more than 100 years of history. Still, it has around 19.400 inhabitants and has used its position as a railway junction well. The railway initially attracted many industries to the area and manufacturing is still one of the most important occupations in Hässleholm.
Our Impression of Hässleholm
Hässleholm does miss something that many Swedish towns have and that is history. The lack thereof is quite obvious when walking around in the center, even though it is a well-planned and decorative town. Shopping might be limited, but there is a sufficient number of restaurants to make it possible to enjoy a few nice evenings here. If you’re looking for some activities, it is likely that you soon are heading out from Hässleholm to other places in the area.
A Short History of Hässleholm
Hässleholm has a quite short history considering its size. It began with the construction of the railway through the area. Hässleholm Railway Station was opened in 1860. The station became a junction in 1865 when one more line connected with the first. The connections continued to increase and in the vicinity of the station, the settlement grew.
1907 saw the establishment of a garrison in Hässleholm. The Swedish Armed forces had soldiers based in the town and these were joined by armored troops in the 1940s. The garrison was active until 2001 when it was decommissioned. The last part of the garrison ceased operations in 2005.
Hässleholm got its town status in 1914. Industries had started to be built at the end of the 19th century and several manufacturing companies had been founded. Production in the new town included tools like files and larger equipment such as machinery for mills.
Things to Do and See
There are few historic buildings and sights in such a young town like Hässlehom. Instead, those who seek history will have to find their way to the smaller localities in the area, such as Hovdala.
Stortorget
Stortorget is the main square in Hässleholm. Surrounding the square are restaurants and shops, which are more in numbers along the adjoining pedestrian street Första Avenyen. Here you might also be able to find street food as well as the occasional market stand.
Hässleholms Museum
Hässleholms Museum opened in 2002 and covers several aspects of Hässleholm’s history. For many, this would be considered nostalgia. The exhibitions include old military vehicles, old firefighting equipment, and horse carriages. Four different local organizations are actually co-running this museum, contributing to the diversity of the exhibitions.
Hässleholm Civic Center
Hässleholm Kulturhus, the civic center of the town, opened in 2000. The building houses a public library, a cinema, and a space for temporary exhibitions.
Hembygdsparken
Hembygdsparken, or the local heritage park, was established in 1930. It is managed by the local heritage foundation, an organization that has moved 11 historical buildings to the park. This has created something similar to an open-air museum.
Hässleholm Church
The local church, Hässleholms kyrka, is probably the most prominent building in the town. It was inaugurated in 1914, a few years after the establishment of the local congregation. The church tower in red bricks is visible when walking along the main street. The church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
How to Get to Hässleholm
- Flights: The closest airport is Kristianstad Airport (KID) 40 kilometers away. The airport has a few domestic routes as well as seasonal charter flights.
- Car: Hässleholm is at the intersection between road 21 and road 23. To the east is Kristianstad, to the south Höör, to the west Perstorp, and to the north Osby.
- Bus: Buses from Skånetrafiken connect Hässleholm with the surrounding region.
- Train: SJ, Krösatåg, Pågatåg, Snälltåget, and Öresundståg service Hässleholm Central Station. These railway companies connect the town with places like Helsingborg, Karlskrona, Kalmar, Kristianstad, Markaryd, and Växjö in Sweden. There are also international routes to Copenhagen and Berlin.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 518 kilometers (5 h 41 min)
- Gothenburg – 231 kilometers (2 h 43 min)
- Malmö – 89 kilometers (1 h 10 min)
- Linköping – 323 kilometers (3 h 49 min)
- Kiruna – 1748 kilometers (19 h 28 min)
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