Journey through Medieval Denmark

Did you know that in the Middle Ages all the Scandinavian states were united into one big Danish kingdom? Therefore, all the southern lands of today's Sweden, the so-called province of Skåne, were originally Danish territories. The three main cities representing Skåne province are Malmo, which hosted the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, Lund, a university campus, and the multinational Helsingborg, which is home to about 160 nationalities. We invite you to visit these cities today.

Our journey will start from your hotel. We will race over one of the most picturesque bridges that connected Copenhagen and Malmo in 2000. The Øresund crossing is a 4-kilometer tunnel that runs along the bottom of the Øresund Strait, and then comes to the surface and turns into an 8-kilometer bridge with adjacent territories, which in total gives about 16 km. Traveling over this bridge is an adventure in itself, although not very long. We will soon find ourselves in the city of Malmo and we will start our acquaintance with this hospitable city at the medieval fortress of Malmøhus (Dan. Malmøhus), one of the oldest castles of the Renaissance.

Here we will get acquainted with the history of the city of Malmo, as well as look at one of the local attractions - the 190-meter building "Turning torso" (Swedish: twisted torso), which is second only to the Moscow 264-meter Triumph Palace in height among residential buildings in Europe. During a walk through the castle of Malmochus you will hear the history of this place, which was built in the first half of the 15th century, learn how this place changed from the fortress to the printed courtyard, where coins were minted, then to the castle, where the heir to the throne Frederick 2nd threw such parties, which all nobles of that time dreamed to visit, learn why this place turned into the largest prison in the 19th century and under what circumstances this place became a museum.

Then we will move to the Town Hall Square, where we will get acquainted with the sculpture of a man who managed to recapture Malmo from the Danes and visit the historical center of Malmo in the small town square (Swedish. Lilla torg) where you can see numerous buildings of the 16th century. Walking through this square and feeling the spirit of the Middle Ages, we will again get on the car and go to the city of Lund students.

Lund is the oldest city after Sigtuna in Sweden, and also the oldest city in relation to Danish history. Danish kings have repeatedly declared Lund the capital of the Danish kingdom, as well as the residence of Danish bishops. From the early 11th century until the Reformation of 1536, the main cathedral of Denmark was located directly in Lund.

It will be our first stop in this city. The ancient cathedral, which is the center of history, culture and science, is the heart of the city, which has been beating for more than 800 years. Faced with sandstone, which over time acquired a noble gray-yellowish color, it stands in the middle of a modern city, radiating peace, confidence, inviolability, loyalty to itself and all who enter it. Being in the walls of the cathedral or next to it, one begins to feel – precisely to feel – the idea of eternity incomprehensible to human consciousness.

Lund Cathedral has survived in general as it was built in the early 12th century, but the history of the cathedral is ancient. The 1st Academy appeared in Lund Cathedral, where one could get the highest education at that time. It is on the basis of this Academy that Lund University slowly emerges, which will be the place of our next stop.

The modern university was founded in 1667, just at the time when the Swedes were taking over the territory of Skåne and the process of herding began. As a result of this policy, there should be only Swedish everywhere. All the items were in Latin and Swedish. Initially, there were 4 faculties: theology, medicine, philosophy and law. The number of students was 100. For comparison, today there are 45,000 people, with a population of 80,000. It is not for nothing that this city is considered a student city, since more than half of the locals are students. Today the university offers 50 different specializations – faculties and has branches in Helsingborg and Malmo. It is among the top 100 universities in the world. After a walk in this hospitable city, we will have lunch in one of the local restaurants, and then take a car to get acquainted with the city of Helsinborg, located in the narrowest place of the Oresund Strait, where only 4 km of water separate the Swedish territories from the Danish.

According to legend, it was in Helsingborg, founded in the 11th century, that the first Viking fortress was located. A walk through this city, we will start from the tower "Chernon" - a place where since the 12th century there was a fort - fortress. Here we will learn about the difficult relationship of the Swedes with the Danes and about the circumstances under which the original Danish territory of Helsingborg became Swedish. We will definitely climb the Chernon Tower and from a height of 35 meters the whole city of Helsingborg will be in the palm of your hand. Today you can see the famous tower here, as well as the places where the local church, chapel and moat surrounded these buildings in the Middle Ages were located.

Enjoying the local scenery, we will go to the center of Helsingborg, where we will visit one of the most visited places in the city - St. Mary's Church and learn how the Lutheran service is conducted. Our last stop today will be the Town Hall Square and the City Hall building, where we will get acquainted with one of the greatest Swedish commanders who managed to defeat Peter the Great himself in one of the battles. Taking a few pictures against the background of the famous commander, we will cross the Øresund Strait by ferry and go back to Copenhagen.

Features of the excursion: excursion for the curious, those who want to see and learn as much as possible in a short time. During the tour you will visit the most important places in Malmo, Lund and Helsinki, as well as learn interesting facts from the history of these cities. The tour will be interesting for lovers of unusual stories, ancient architecture, as well as all people who want to plunge into the day in the era of medieval Denmark. If you love breathtaking landscapes and want to see how the kings of the Middle Ages lived, as well as see how Sweden lives today, then this tour is for you. The tour is conducted in Russian.