Kristianstad between Coast, Nature and Culture

Kristianstad’s Vattenrike has 21 visitor sites with birdwatching towers, footbridges and open-air museums. Naturum Vattenriket is the gateway for visitors to the Kristianstad Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve and serves as a centre for nature interpretation and learning, built on stilts over the water. The destination’s direct overview of localities includes Arkelstorp, Åhus, Önnestad, Barum, Tollarp, Huaröd, Everöd, Östra Sönnarslöv, Degeberga, Fjälkinge, Färlöv, Gärds Köpinge, Kristianstad, Yngsjö, Linderöd, Maglehem and Vånga.

Nature and Coast

Naturum is home to the Opteryx simulator, which offers three journeys beneath the water’s surface or high above the Vattenriket landscape. Around 500 programme items are scheduled there every year, including activities such as qigong and bat safaris.

On the coast, the Äspet nature reserve lies directly south of the harbour in Åhus. It includes a shallow lagoon that attracts many breeding and resting birds. Two birdwatching towers and the Äspet Open-Air Museum are located next to the Snickarhaken car park. Another natural area is the Forsakarsravinen nature reserve: this popular excursion destination has a fairytale-like valley shaded by beech trees and one of the highest waterfalls in Skåne.

The Municipality of Kristianstad has a 42 km coastline, eight seaside bathing areas and eight bathing areas at inland lakes. Near Degeberga backar, there are two hiking trails measuring 1.2 km and 2.2 km respectively. One offers views from Söndre klack, while the other follows the Forsakarsbäcken stream. The limestone-rich sandy steppe of Degeberga backar provides a habitat for specialised plants and animals.

Hiking, Water and Cycling

The Skåneleden SL6 Vattenriket passes through or close to 18 nature reserves in the Municipality of Kristianstad; 14 of them are located in Vattenriket. The trail is 190 km long and runs from Simontorp in north-eastern Skåne to Brösarp in Österlen.

Day trips close to nature by canoe or kayak are offered on the Helge å, passing through urban landscapes, wet meadows and coastal waters. The Municipality of Kristianstad also has seven local cycling routes, which mostly run along car-free cycle paths and lightly trafficked country roads.

Kristianstads badrike is located in southern Näsby, around 1.4 km from central Kristianstad, and can be reached on foot, by bicycle, bus or car. The facility includes swimming pools for training, a pool with a diving tower, a large family pool with slides and a relaxation area with several types of sauna.

Culture and History

Kristianstads konsthall presents solo and group exhibitions of contemporary art; talks and activities with artists are also frequently held. The art gallery is housed in a former post office dating from 1917, designed by architect Erik Lallerstedt.

The Filmmuseet preserves Sweden’s first film studio, which has been maintained and restored in its original condition from 1909. The exhibition presents events and personalities from Kristianstad that shaped the early history of feature films, as well as historical cameras and other film equipment.

The urban history exhibition at Åhus museum displays numerous archaeological finds that provide insights into medieval life in Åhus. Åhus has a medieval town centre, long sandy beaches, a well-equipped guest harbour and numerous cultural monuments. Järnvägsmuseet Kristianstad presents railway history as well as impressions of travelling by train and of railway environments from earlier times.

For the overarching travel overview: Skåne.