Varberg
Halland'S Seaside Town: A 13th Century Fortress Holding The Bocksten Man Bog Body, A Moorish Style Cold Bath House Of 1903 And Sweden'S Best Known Surf And Windsurf Beach At Apelviken · Varberg, Halland County
Varberg is a seaside town of about 30,000 people on the Halland coast, south of Gothenburg, and one of the classic Swedish summer resorts. Its centrepiece is Varberg Fortress on the harbour headland, begun as a castle in the late 13th century when Halland was Danish and later rebuilt as a star fortress. The fortress holds the Halland museum of cultural history, whose star exhibit is the Bocksten Man, a medieval man found in a bog in 1936 who was killed and staked into the peat; his hood, cloak and hose survived, and they are often described as among the most complete sets of medieval everyday clothing in Europe. On a pier below the fortress stands the Cold Bath House of 1903, built in an eye-catching Moorish style with onion domes, where locals sauna and swim all year. South of town a promenade runs to Apelviken, Sweden's best-known surf and windsurf beach. People come for beaches, bathing, fortress history and surf. The honest caveat: in July the town is crowded and prices rise, and on a still summer day there are no waves at all.
Varberg Fortress on the harbour headland, the Cold Bath House on its pier, and the coast south to Apelviken, Varberg, Halland County, Sweden
The fortress grounds and ramparts are usually open daily and are free to walk. The museum inside is typically open daily in summer, with shorter hours and a closed day or two in winter - check the current schedule. The Cold Bath House is open all year, generally morning to evening, with shorter winter hours and closures on some holidays such as Midsummer Eve - confirm locally. Beaches, the promenade and Getteron nature reserve are always open. Getting there: trains on the west coast line reach Varberg from Gothenburg in about 45 minutes and continue south to Halmstad and Malmo, with Vasttrafik, Oresundstag and SJ services; the station is central. Book summer hotels and campsites months ahead for July, and surf lessons and board hire a few days ahead in peak season.