V en is a beautiful island in the middle of Öresund. Except for Kyrbacken marina facing Denmark and Norreborg marina facing Sweden there is 1 more marina on Ven. Bäckviken marina is the biggest. From here there are ferries to Landskrona and Råå. In Bäckviken you can rent bicycles and get tourist information. There is a camping in Norreborg
I have not been on Ven for almost 50 years and I really don't remember much of it. But I discovered the web page www.ventrafiken.se now when I update this page about Ven sitting in Eritrea bored to death in 2018.
Rederiaktiebolaget Ventrafiken even called Ventrafiken AB is a Swedish shipping company that trafficking the route from Landskrona - Bäckviken on the island Ven. The company is owned by Landskrona municipality and have been in charge of the traffic between Landskrona and Ven since 1991. The ferries transport cars, trucks, tractors and goods. Not allowed to drive car so the tourist only bring bicycles or come by foot.
Beautiful places to visit on the island Ven
Picture from www.ventrafiken.se
The terminal in Landskrona is at Skeppsbron, but before 2009 the ferries departed from Jönsaplan close to the Sofia Albertina church. The route is included in Skånetrafikens zones. Skånetrafiken is running the commuter busses and trains so you can use the same card as for busses and the trains.
I was really inspired when discovered their web page and I decided to go visit next summer when I go on my bicycle holiday at the Kiel Canal. I will go look for bears and wolfs in Finland and Sweden so I can have a weekend on Ven to look for birds and to visit the Tycho Brahe museum
Enjoy a lovely boat trip to the island of Ven. The excursion begins at Skeppsbron in Landskrona or at Havnegaden in Copenhagen where you step aboard one of the Ventrafiken ferries. The crossing takes about 30 minutes and offers a fantastic view of the ocean and coastline.
When you arrive on Ven, you have a great day ahead of you which will offer both natural beauty and exciting culture. For example, you will find the impressive grassy slopes of Backafallen as well as a wide range of art galleries, artisans and the Tycho Brahe Museum.
Welcome on board!
Tycho Brahe Museum
Picture from www.ventrafiken.se
In the middle of Ven, in the former All Saints’ Church, you will find the modern Tycho Brahe museum that is surrounded by a beautiful renaissance garden. At Ven, 1576-1597, the nobleman Tycho Brahe created what is considered as the first scientific institution in Europe.
Tycho Brahe was one of the five scientists that laid the ground of our modern world-view. Tycho Brahe’s castle Uraniborg became during two decades a meeting place for scientists and royals from all over Europe. The castle was demolished in the 17th and all that remains today is the underground part of the observatory, Stjerneborg.
If you would like to learn more of Tycho Brahe’s exciting story you shall not miss the Tycho Brahe Memorials. Please visit http://www.tychobrahe.com/UK/index.html for more information about the museum.
A page to visit if you have plans to visit Ven and they have everything you need to know. And I was surprised, the site is in English as well. Nothing you're spoiled with visiting Swedish pages for tourists. And I have not seen any museums in Sweden with English information. But if you speak Arabic, no problem, almost more common than Swedish today.
Kyrkbacken and St Ibb church 1905
Kyrkbacken is the oldest marina on Ven. Norreborg is the smallest marina on the island. Norreborg marina was built as shipment port for the brickyard when it moved from Kyrkbacken to the north side of the island.
Quick facts about Ven from Wikipedia
(Danish: Hven, older Swedish spelling Hven) is a small Swedish island in the Øresund strait. It is part of Landskrona Municipality. The island has 371 inhabitants and an area of 7.5 km2. During the 1930s, the population was at its peak, with approximately 1,300 inhabitants. There are four villages on the island: Bäckviken, Tuna By, Norreborg and Kyrkbacken.
Geography
Unlike the relatively flat islands Amager and Saltholm, Ven rises from the Øresund with steep and dramatic coastlines. Its southern coastline resembles the White Cliffs of Dover, Møns Klint and Cape Arkona, but due to a higher degree of sand and lower of chalk, the 50-metre-high (160-foot) cliffs are more yellow than white. Almost the entire island consists of a flat agricultural landscape, but elevated like a plateau. Due to the slightly higher altitude, the climate on the island in general is similar to that of the lower terrain coastal areas around Øresund.
The island has three smaller fishing ports: Bäckviken (where small ferries depart to Landskrona), Norreborg and Kyrkbacken. The latter is located at the south-western coast just beneath the old church Sankt Ibb. This coast is known as Backafall.
History
The island was historically under Danish rule. Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546–1601) built two observatories there, Uraniborg and Stjerneborg, during 1576–1596. The observatories were built by the inhabitants of the island with Tyco Brahe as their Lord. It is not known if his apprentice Johannes Kepler also spent time at the island.
The Swedish took over control in 1658, as the rest of Scania was ceded to Sweden by the Treaty of Roskilde. The island was not specifically mentioned in the treaty, and according to the Danes it was not part of Skåne, but of Zealand and therefore still under Danish rule. The Swedes did not agree with that interpretation, and sent troops to occupy the island on 6 May 1658. The transfer to Sweden was confirmed in 1660 by the Treaty of Copenhagen. The 350th anniversary of this transfer was commemorated on the island in 2010.
Two churches are located on this island. The older one, St Ibb's Church, is located at the top of a hill in the churchyard close to the west coast of the island, overlooking the Danish town of Rungsted. It was built in the 13th century and is a popular church for weddings. The younger church, which has been converted into a museum, is located in the middle of the island, near Uraniborg, one of the two observatories built by the astronomer Tycho Brahe.
Ven has ferries to Landskrona, and, in the summer only, to Helsingborg and Copenhagen. The ferries dock at Bäckviken. The island is a popular tourist place, especially in summer. It is sometimes called “The pearl of Øresund” As the earth is rich in till, it is good for agriculture. Durum wheat and grapes are grown there.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Map of Hven from the Blaeu Atlas 1663,
based on maps drawn by Tycho Brahe in the previous century
based on maps drawn by Tycho Brahe in the previous century
The dramatic southern coast. The yellowish rather than white colour of the cliffs indicates more sand than chalk
Picture from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Backafall, the south-west coast of Ven
Picture from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
One of the fields of Ven
Picture from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
St. Ibb church
Picture from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tycho Brahe
Tycho Brahe was a famous Danish astronomer.
Tyge (Latinized as Tycho) Brahe was born on 14 December 1546 in Skåne, then in Denmark, now in Sweden. He was the
Tycho Brahe
He attended the universities of Copenhagen and Leipzig, and then travelled through the German region, studying further at the universities of Wittenberg, Rostock, and Basel.
During this period his interest in alchemy and astronomy was aroused, and he bought several astronomical instruments. In a duel with another student, in Wittenberg in 1566, Tycho lost part of his nose. For the rest of his life he wore a metal insert over the missing part. He returned to Denmark in 1570.
In 1572 Tycho discovered Nova Stella, a new star in the star formation Cassiopeia and published a brief tract about it the following year. In 1574 he gave a course of lectures on
Uraniborg
He was now convinced that the improvement of astronomy hinged on accurate observations.
After another tour of Germany, where he visited astronomers, Tycho accepted an offer from the King Frederick II to fund an observatory. King Frederik of Denmark decided to give the island of Ven outside Landskrona to the scientist Tycho Brahe at the end of the 16th century.
Between 1576 and 1580 Tycho Brahe built his castle Uraniborg. It took about 8 years to complete the work and 1584 it was ready. The Danish king earmarked 1% of Denmark's national budget to Tycho Brahe and his research
Tycho Brahe
Picture from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
When Uraniborg was to small for being both his home and observatory he built the observatory Stjärneborg. The dome was turnable 360 degrees and there were hatches for the other instrument. This construction became the prototype for other observatories built in Europe when Tycho Brahe's students returned home to their countries in Europe.
One of the first people Tycho Brahe got as his enemy when
arriving to Ven was the priest. Tycho Brahe forbid the priest to perform exorcize when christening babies.
Tycho was known as a good doctor for his contemporary. People came to him for free drugs and care. Great irritation for the medical guild in Denmark.The inhabitants on Ven did not like Tycho. They had to work for 8 years building the Uranieborg on a day-work basis. The people started to move from the island and Tycho consulted the king they pass a law that forbid people to leave the island without permission from the king or Tycho.
Tycho Brahe research on Ven was carried out between 1576 and 1597. During the time on Ven Tycho Brahe educated many astronomers from Europe. Tycho Brahe's astronomical
Stjärneborg
He knew that tables over the stars and planets was incorrect and that it took many years of observations and measurement of the stars and planets to get them correct. This was the work he carried out on Ven.
King Frederik II died 1588 and the relations between Tycho Brahe and the royal family and later with King Christian IV turned sour. After a falling out with King Christian IV, Tycho packed up his instruments and books in 1597 and left Denmark. After traveling several years, he settled in Prague
Tycho & Sophie Brahe
Johannes Kepler was Tycho's assistant in Prague 1598 and when Tycho died 1601 of mercury poisoning.
He left calculations for the positions of 777 stars. Kepler used these calculations for his theories about the planet's elliptic orbit.
Tycho Brahe was the best instrument designer in his time.
He designed several new ones and improved old instrument. He introduced a new measurement scale and he improved sights. His calculations and observations could be used by future scientists. Tycho Brahe have therefore been named "Father of the modern observation art"Tycho Brahe had a metal globe where he marked the stars after determination the position accurately.
Sophie Brahe, Tychos younger sister did her own career as plantbreader, astrologer and historian. She was Tycho's scientifically assistant on Ven. She died 1643 at an age of 87. That's like living until you are 200 years old today.
Monument over Tycho in Helsingborg
Below is a map from Landskrona Tourist Information.
Map Details
Title:
Discovering Ven by yourself
Description:
This cycle trip will show you the island of Ven's history and attractions. The trip is about 11 kms long. We hope you have an enjoyable bike-ride!
Full size map if you click HERE
Haken Lighthouse 4th of August 2003 when we passed with CT Star
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