- Startsida
- Prins Bertils stig
- En
- Explore the trail
- Sections
- Halmstad castle – Västra stranden beach
Halmstad castle – Västra stranden beach
Prins Bertil’s Trail officially begins at Halmstad Castle. This part of the hike offers a beautiful mix of city and nature. From the historic castle, the trail follows the Nissan River out toward the coast, passing through leafy parks and small marinas before the landscape opens up to the sea and the wide sand dunes of Västra Stranden.
Of course, you can start the trail wherever you like. Here, we’ve listed sights and activities along the stretch from Halmstad Castle to Västra Stranden.
Distance
This section is 1,5 km long and takes approximately 18 minutes to walk.
The hub: Halmstad castle
Halmstad Castle was built as a pleasure residence for the Danish king Christian IV. It was completed around 1619 and still keeps its Renaissance style. This is where Christian IV and Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus celebrated for a week when the final payment of the Älvsborg Ransom was made.
The Royal Distillery (Kronobränneriet)
The Royal Distillery was built between 1776 and 1778. At that time, King Gustav III had banned private alcohol production to increase income for the Crown. Brännvin (a type of Swedish schnapps) was produced here until 1787. Since then, the building has served as a grain warehouse, nail factory, and art school. It is the oldest industrial building in Halmstad.
The Pilot Station (Lotsen)
This is the central hub for all pilots and crew members in Halland. They operate the pilot boats and transfer pilots to and from large ships. Halmstad’s first pilot station was established in 1777.
The marina External link, opens in new window.
The marina (swe) External link, opens in new window. feels like a small village, especially in spring when boat owners are busy sanding, polishing, and painting their pride and joy. From here, you can spot the remains of an old ferry terminal. Between 1960 and 1966, the ferry Prins Bertil ran daily trips to Aarhus and Copenhagen in Denmark. Today, you can take the ferry to Grenaa, also in Denmark, from the main harbor on the other side of the Nissan River.
The hub: Västra stranden beach
Västra Stranden beach is a wide sandy beach stretching about 1.2 kilometers. It’s a popular spot for families with kids—and dogs. Since it’s not an official swimming beach, it’s open to dogs all year round, making it a favorite for dog owners in every season.
Nästa etapp
Etappen Västra stranden – Simstadion Brottet består mest av mest skogsmiljö, men du kommer även gå vissa sträckor ända nere vid stranden.