Norre Port and Halmstad Fortress

Norre Port

Norre Port (North Gate) was completed in 1601, when Halmstad was part of Denmark. For over 400 years, Norre Port has served as the northern entrance to Halmstad, guarding the city against attack. Originally there were four city gates, but today Norre Port is the only one remaining.

Fortifications outside the gate

The gates were the weakest points of the fortress, and therefore extensive defensive works were built outside them. Outside Norre Port, several layers of fortifications were constructed, traces of which can still be seen in Norre Katts Park. At the same time, the gates were the city’s public face – they were therefore designed to be impressive and richly decorated, often bearing the king’s monogram.

National Road 2

Until the mid-1950s, National Road 2 (now the E6) passed through the gate. Over time, Norre Port became a bottleneck for the growing car traffic. The city’s first traffic lights were installed here in 1929. In 1971, Norre Port was completely closed to vehicle traffic.

Threat of demolition

Norre Port has been threatened with demolition several times. The first time was when the other gates and the fortress were torn down. It was saved when the citizen Berndt Lidberg bought the gate and part of the rampart to establish a tobacco plantation.

In the 19th century, the gate was again threatened with demolition, this time to improve traffic flow. Most of the gate was now owned by the city, and despite uncertainty about the ownership of the remaining part, the city council decided in 1879 to demolish it. However, protests from the National Heritage Board stopped the plans. Instead, the gate became a museum for the Halland Museum Association. Objects were exhibited here until 1933, when a new museum opened—today’s Halland Museum of Art. External link, opens in new window.

Norre Port today

Today, Norre Port is the only preserved city gate in Halmstad and one of the few remaining in Sweden. In the 1970s, it was restored and declared a listed historic building. Today it is a symbol of the city and a cherished cultural landmark in the center.

Halmstad Fortress

After several wars with Sweden during the 16th century, King Christian IV strengthened Denmark’s hold on the west coast by building a series of new fortresses. Halmstad became an important location for Danish troops heading north and a key point for controlling the intersection of Nissastigen and the Coastal Road.

By 1605, the entire fortress was completed: an eight-meter-high rampart of stone, earth, and turf surrounding the city, along with a wall along the Nissan River. The fortress was built according to the most modern principles of the time, with thick ramparts that could withstand bombardment and projecting sections that allowed effective defensive fire.

There was a city gate in each direction. Norre Port guarded the northern entrance, while the strongest gate, Öster Port, defended the bridge over the Nissan. The architect Hans van Steenwinckel designed the fortress and Halmstad Castle, but he died in 1601 before construction began. His apprentice, master builder Willum Cornelissen, completed the work.

The test of fire – 1676

After Halmstad became Swedish in 1645, the fortress soon appeared outdated and was gradually rebuilt and reinforced.

During the Scanian War, the fortress was truly tested. In August 1676, the Danish army besieged Halmstad. Learning that a Swedish army was approaching, they withdrew to meet them at Fyllebro, about 4 km south of the city, where they were defeated on August 17, 1676. Shortly afterward, a larger Danish force under King Christian V returned but abandoned the siege again. Halmstad held strong – the September 1676 siege became the last.

Parts of the fortress

The fortress consisted of high earth ramparts surrounded by stone walls. The pointed corners were bastions used for artillery. Each had its own name: Norra, Kloster, Våghals, Västra, Mölle, and Södra bastion. A moat and the Nissan River surrounded the fortress.

There were four gates: Norre Port, Väster Port, Söder Port, and Öster Port. Only Norre Port remains today. Two earthworks for long-range artillery, known as “katter,” were located to the north and northwest.

Demolition

Although the fortress was still strong, it was decided in the 1730s that it should be demolished. There were several reasons: it was expensive to maintain and at the same time they wanted to prevent an enemy from using it. The threat from Denmark to the Swedish west coast was also no longer as great. Halmstad had thus lost its military importance. In connection with the demolition, the gates were sold off and eventually demolished. Norre Port was saved.

Still visible today

Today you can see Västre Katt at the Bryggaregatan/Hantverksgatan intersection and remains of Norre Katt and Norre Port in Norre Katts Park.

You can also see old casemates (enclosed cannon rooms) along Karl XI’s Road. One is open at Klammerdammsgatan, and another can be viewed from Kyrkogatan.