Meet the Middle Ages
BackThe herring fishery in Skanör-Falsterbo
It has been told that the herring fishery off the Skåne coast was so rich during the Middle Ages, that one could scoop up the fish with one ´s hands. Jealous Germans wrote of the Danes "getting herring for nothing from God" and then selling it dearly.
The largest herring market was in Skanör- Falsterbo. The herring trade flourished there during the 12th, the 13th and the 14th centuries.
Fish, particularly herring, was very important during the Middle Ages. More than half of all the days of the year were fasting-days on which you were only allowed to eat fish. The herring fishery gave enormous profits to the Danish King, which was threatening to the mighty Hanseatic League. It lead to a war between Denmark and the Hansa in the 1360 ´s. When peace was made in 1370, the League was allowed to control the herring fishery of Skåne for 15 years.
The abundance of herring abruptly ceased in the beginning of the 15th century.