Aose hus, Åhus

Åhus castle, in medieval times Castro Aaos, was a castle in Åhus in northeastern Skåne. It was one of the most important and oldest medieval castles in the county, and its main purpose was to protect the entrance to the Helge River. For a long time the castle was considered to have been a palace - a refuge - for the Danish archbishopric. But the results of a major research project, led by the Regional Museum in Kristianstad 2006-2010, have given a completely new picture of the castle and its function. Among other things, there are strong indications that the castle was built as early as the middle of the 11th century. If so, it would be the oldest stone castle in Scandinavia. Today, the castle is a ruin on the north side of the Helge River, less than a kilometre from the mouth of the river in Hanö Bay. Throughout the 2010s, the ruins have been subjected to regular vandalism.