From its climate to the architecture of its houses to its relatively plain terrain, Skåne County distinguishes itself from the rest of Sweden. Much of this county is occupied by the province of Scania, with a small portion of Halland province as well.
The weather in Sweden’s southernmost county is rather mild compared to others in the same latitudinal position, thanks to the Gulf Stream. Skåne County also enjoys up to 17 hours of daylight during the peak of summer.
Much of Skåne consists of low, fertile agricultural plains, though there are hilly regions in the Bjäre and Kulla peninsulas.
Skåne is known for the half-timbered houses (that is, houses with exposed wood frames) that have sprung up in the county over the centuries. Many of the old homes are still in existence, and more than 300 can be found in the town of Ystad. Skåne also has about 240 castles and country estates dating back to the 11th to 15th centuries.
Malmo
The multi-cultural city of Malmö is a pocket of cosmopolitan charm in the county of Skåne. It has one of the largest urban populations in Sweden. Malmö once belonged to Denmark, and to this day the character of the city and its residents is more Danish than Swedish. Today, it still maintains its ties to Denmark, thanks to the construction of the Öresund Bridge, which links this city to Copenhagen.
The Western Harbour, Västra Hamnen, is now being turned into an exclusive urban residential area. The homes have self-sustaining features, and are considered feats of architecture and engineering. The Turning Torso, specifically, is a 190-metre residential skyscraper that has become a renowned landmark.