The Twisten homestead

Listen to the stories with Halmstad Stories

The Twisten homestead is one of the stops on the Historic Walking Tour in Halmstad Stories. External link, opens in new window. Take a stroll through central Halmstad whenever you like and discover 19 historical sites brought to life through an audio guide. The Historic Walking Tour was created in collaboration with the Gamla Halmstad (Old Halmstad) association.

A fine home is built

The vaults in the basement may partly date from the Middle Ages, but the main part of the building was probably built after the great city fire in 1619. It is a lavish stone house that towered above 17th-century Halmstad whose other buildings are mainly cheaper half-timbered houses.

Johan Twist

The earliest history of the building is uncertain. There are theories that the house belonged to the Franciscan monastery on Lilla Torg, but these have not been fully confirmed. What we do know, however, is that the owner who gives the house its name moved in in the 1660s. Johan Twist is a merchant who immigrates from Lübeck. He trades a lot with Holland, and in Halmstad he becomes known for his aggressive business methods. Several times these result in litigation. Nevertheless, Johan Twist succeeds in gaining the confidence of the burghers and is appointed alderman in Halmstad. He lived in this house until his death in 1688.

Major General Georg Bogislaus Staël von Holstein

Look up at the tower. Today it is a bay window, but it was originally built as a staircase. At the very top you will see a wind vane. It says "SvH a:o 1731" on it. It was added by another famous owner: Major General Georg Bogislaus Staël von Holstein. He is probably the one who renovated the house to its current exterior appearance. He is also the one who rebuilt Vapnö Castle after it burned down. He is also known for something close to bigamy.

Georg Bogislaus Staël von first marries Ingeborg Horn and they are both imprisoned in Russia. He manages to get home to Sweden, but she stays behind. After eleven years of silence, he finally makes up his mind to marry Sofia Ridderschantz. But the day before the wedding. Ingeborg shows up and everything is called off. For 40 years. Because then Ingeborg dies and the now 77-year-old Georg can marry the 64-year-old Sofia. However, all three are said to have been close friends throughout their lives.

Town hall and school

After Staël von Holstein, Twistens farm has several different owners until the 1820s. The city of Halmstad then buys the building and turns it into a town hall. There is a half-timbered house in the courtyard, and that becomes the site of Halmstad's foremost educational institution, roughly equivalent to the secondary school of today.

By the turn of the century, the pupils and aldermen have moved out and the house starts to be called the Twisten Homestead again. It now becomes the place to buy alcoholic beverages. For around 50 years, the predecessor of Systembolaget (the Swedish government wine and spirits monopoly) remains here. But then it becomes more jolly.

The Kavaljern restaurant

In 1959, the Norre Kavaljeren restaurant opens here and quickly becomes one of Halmstad's most popular restaurants. It remained so for several generations. During the summer of 1986, Kavaljeren becomes the home stage for ”Husbands” with Niklas Strömstedt, Janne Bark, Lasse Lindbom and Nisse Nordin. It proves to be a huge success.

The present

Since 2000, the building has been used alternately as a restaurant and a shop. We have the fire department to thank for the fact that it is still standing. In 1983, a fire raged again. But this time the result was much better than in the 17th century and this irreplaceable building was saved.