Kullen lighthouse, Lighthouse at Kullaberg peninsula in Höganäs, Sweden.
Kullen lighthouse is a cylindrical white tower built on a rocky headland at the very tip of the Kullaberg peninsula, in the southwest of Sweden. It stands on bare rock, overlooking the narrow passage where the Baltic and the North Sea meet.
A fire beacon was first lit on this spot in 1561, making it one of the oldest lighthouse sites in northern Europe. The tower standing today was completed in 1900, replacing earlier structures that could no longer meet the demands of growing maritime traffic.
Standing at the tip of the peninsula, the lighthouse marks the point where vessels enter the passage between Denmark and Sweden. Throughout the day, cargo ships, ferries and sailing boats pass steadily, making it a natural spot to watch maritime traffic.
The lighthouse is reached on foot along trails that begin in the village of Mölle and cross through the Kullaberg nature reserve. Some sections run over uneven rock, so sturdy shoes and enough time for the round trip are worth planning for.
The lens inside the tower is a Fresnel lens from the 1800s, a system of stepped glass rings that focuses the beam without needing a large curved mirror. It still works on the same principle it was built on, and the tower has never needed to switch to a different optical system.
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