Aosehus, besöksplats i Vattenriket

In Åhus harbor, at the mouth of the Helgeån river, lies the Aosehus castle ruins. At the exhibition next to the river, you can read about the medieval harbor town of Åhus and about the exciting history of Aosehus Castle.

In the Middle Ages, the mouth of the river Helgeån was a hub for trade and defense. A castle was built in the 12th century. Here, tolls were taken from everyone who traveled on the river. Aosehus means 'the house at the mouth of the river'. Today it is the gateway to Vattenriket from the sea. The River Helge å meets the sea here, and for boaters it is the entrance to the biosphere reserve.

The house at the river mouth

In the Middle Ages, Åhus was an important port town and the estuary was the only port on the coast for a long time. Ships came here from near and far. In the harbor, salt, spices and beer were transshipped to smaller boats. Farmers and sailors bartered and some goods were sold at Maria Magdalena market. Whoever owned Aosehus had control over boat traffic. The castle was first built in stone, then in brick.

In the 1650s, the trade route to Kristianstad went via Åhus. With the railroad to Åhus in 1886, the port got a boost. The entrance channel became wider and deeper.

In the 1960s, fuel oil became the major import commodity. Today, grain, spirits and chemicals are shipped from Åhus.

The Aosehus castle ruins remain, but the trading boats have given way to sailing boats. The quay offers a nice walk lined with cafés and restaurants in the summer town of Åhus.