Halland stretches along the coast of Kattegat, from Kungsbacka in the far north to Laholm in the south, and spans 150 km all in all. Between these two, we have Varberg, Falkenberg and Halmstad. Hylte too, a small town located approximately 50 km inland. We have said this before, but it is worth repeating, one is never far from experiencing art in Halland. Regardless of whether you find yourself on the Onsala peninsula, the market place in Varberg or by the foot of the hill called Hallandsåsen.
Do you want to have a day out or planning an excursion over several days? Are you just a small party travelling by car or a larger group travelling by bus? To help your planning, we have outlined different suggestions of excursions, sights and the distance between each venue. Let’s go!
Kungsbacka
If you are travelling from Gothenburg, you can start your art tour through Halland in Kungsbacka. Right at the centre of the town, you will find Kulturhuset Fyren with a library, theatre and Kungsbacka konsthall exhibition venue. Temporary exhibitions are displayed here all year round, mainly focusing on contemporary art and current topics of society. Travelling back in time, from today to yesteryears, is not far. In Fjärås, 20 km south of Kungsbacka, you will find Tjolöholms Castle, the most prominent venue of Arts & Crafts in the Nordic region, built around the turn of the 20th century and whose architecture, interior design and furnishings made the young priest Gustaf Ankar to blurt out “It was just like stepping into a fairytale, so totally different from anything I have ever seen before”.
Kungsbacka konsthall – Tjolöholm Castle: 18 km (approx. 20 min journey)
Varberg
En route to Varberg, you will find Tofta Konstgalleri, mainly known to display contemporary art by currently active artists in Halland. When you arrive in Varberg, we suggest you park your car/bus by Sjöallén or at one of the multi-storey car parks. Once there and parked, you can easily make your way on foot to the different venues: Varbergs Konsthall situated on the second floor of Kulturhuset Komedianten and the Harbour Exhibition Hall (Hamnmagasinet), which, apart from temporary exhibitions in Galleri Hamnmagasinet, also houses a silversmith’s, a glassblower’s and a ceramics & graphic design workshop. Behind the Harbour Exhibition Hall, you will find Varberg Castle with Hallands kulturhistoriska museum and on the way there you will also pass the open-air baths Kallbadhuset, one of the most famous buildings of this town.
Tjolöholm Castle -Tofta Konstgalleri: 40 km (approx. 30 min journey)
Körsträcka Tofta Konstgalleri-Varberg (Sjöallén): 10 km (approx. 15 min journey)
Falkenberg
Instead of choosing the motorway between Varberg and Falkenberg, we recommend you take the old E6 road, which is a peaceful route along the coast boasting beautiful views across fields and wet meadows. River Ätran, one of the four rivers in Halland, runs through Falkenberg and next to this river, you will find Rian that specialises in crafts and design. Falkenberg has also got a lot of art on public display, several of which were installed in conjunction with the sculptural exhibition called Sculptura 97.
Varberg (Sjöallén)-Falkenberg (Hamngatan/Skepparesträtet): 36 km (approx. 25 min journey)
Halmstad
Continue south on the old E6 route and as you arrive in Heberg, you turn westwards towards Ugglarp and Steninge. Just north of Halmstad, you will find Harplinge windmill and Harp Art Lab, a unique setting for contemporary art, sound and sculpture. Another 10 kilometres further south, an art museum called Mjellby Konstmuseum is located, which belongs to the Halmstad group of artists and offers temporary exhibitions with everything from contemporary art to moderism, often with a focus on surrealism. From Mjellby we head towards Hotel Tylösand and Galleri Tres Hombres art , which, apart from a large selection of photographic works of art, also has a great display of paintings, sculptures and graphic design, not just in one particular room or are, but all around the hotel. On the way in to Halmstad town centre, you have the opportunity to visit two historical sites linked to local artists; Walter Bengtsson’s Ateljé Bastaskär and Gustaf Skoglund’s Galleri Skoglund. As you arrive in Halmstad, we suggest you park on or somewhere near Axel Olsons gata. This is where the town library and Halmstads Konsthall are situated, where you can enjoy contemporary art by both local and national artists. A stone’s throw from Halmstad Konsthall, you will can find Hallands Konstmuseum, the regional art museum in our county. Since the autumn of 2016, the Halland Art Museum has been closed for refurbishment. The new, extended museum is expected to open in 2019. The public part continues throughout the refurbishment phase with guided walks in the town centre and activities taking place at Open-air museum Hallandsgården. Whilst at the town centre, you might as well enjoy the rich offering of public art. As you set of in your car/bus again, heading south, we suggest you take Laholmsvägen towards the motorway and get to know a little bit more about the prominent artist Olle Bærtling at Halmstad College and Kvarteret Bærtling.
Falkenberg (Hamngatan/Skepparesträtet) – Harplinge: 30 km (approx. 30 min journey)
Harplinge – Mjellby Konstmuseum: 10 km (approx. ca 15 min journey)
Mjellby Konstmuseum – Galleri Tres Hombres art: 4,5 km (approx. 7 min journey)
Galleri Tres Hombres art – Ateljé Bastaskär: 4,5 km (approx. 8 min journey)
Ateljé Bastaskär – Galleri Gustaf Skoglund: 4,5 km (approx. 8 min journey)
Galleri Gustaf Skoglund – Halmstad (Axel Olsons gata): 6,5 km (approx. 10 min journey)
Halmstad (Axel Olsons gata) – Högskolan/Kvarteret Bærtling: 3 km (approx. 5 min journey)
Laholm
This is the oldest town in Halland and they are very proud of Teckningsmuseet, the only museum in the Nordic region specialising in the art of drawing. They offer temporary exhibitions with Nordic and international artists, as well as works from their own collection. In the same building as Teckningsmuseet, you can also find Laholms keramikmuseum and not far from there, the Stadshusgalleriet. This town also has a vast range of public art. Finish off your visit to Laholm with a short trip inland to Konsthallen Hishult, which has a great display of modern, Swedish art.
Halmstad (Kvarteret Bærtling) – Laholm (Hästtorget/Sankt Knuts gränd): 27 km (approx. 20 min journey)
Laholm (Hästtorget/Sankt Knuts gränd) – Konsthallen Hishult: 20 km (approx. 25 min journey)
Hylte
Continue northwards from Hishult, towards Unnaryd and Bonadsmuseet. They have tapestry paintings from the southern region of Sweden dating back to the 1700s and onwards, folk art that have fulfilled both a decorative as well as an educational purpose.
