Hörte harbour

The development of the harbour

Originally, the site was used by farmers for seasonal fishing, but during the 19th century, Hörte developed into a more permanent fishing village. Over the years, the site has changed, and in the 1870s, the owner of the Dybäck estate built a new harbour by dredging the Dybäck river, as the original harbour had silted up. Hörte is also rumoured to have been a landing site for the Vikings, although this is not confirmed. The harbour of Hörte belonged to the Malmöhus County Eel Fishing Association (Malmöhus Läns Ålfiskarförening) until 1969 when it was donated to the current non-profit harbour association that manages the harbour and preserves this unique cultural environment. Today, Hörte is part of a scenic area, where the old fishing village no longer exists, but the harbour remains, reminding of the site’s interesting history.

Rich birdlife

The birdlife around the harbour of Hörte is rich, and therefore there is a birdwatching house, that is open to the public. The birdwatching house is used by bird enthusiasts who are frequent visitors to the harbour. Here, you have a good overview of passing geese, ducks, and waders both in spring and autumn. The water pipit is a rare bird often seen on the coastal meadows between Hörte and Bingsmarken during the winter months.

Interesting flora

The wetlands at Bingsmarken have an exciting flora with plants such as water avens, meadow saxifrage, cuckoo flower, and greater bird's-foot trefoil. There are also special grass species, including the smooth brome, which has its only known growing site in Skåne here.

The Hörte ruin

Just east of the harbour along the coastal road and the steep shoreline, there is a fake ruin, a gable in granite and brick that landowner Albert Balzar Wallis at Dybäck Castle built in 1907 in memory of the former Hörtehus, a warehouse from the Hanseatic period. During the romantic period of the 19. century, it was common for estates and castles to build artificial ancient monuments.

Sweden’s southernmost deciduous forest

East of the harbour of Hörte and the mouth of the Dybäck river you find the Hörte forest. This is Sweden’s southernmost deciduous forest, and here you can find several tree species: oak, chestnut, maple, and beech. The forest and surrounding areas are of great importance, especially for birdlife.