It was originally part of Denmark until 1658, when the Treaty of Roskilde ceded the Skane province to the Swedes. There are many historic buildings reflecting its heritage, including the Town Hall and Malmohus Castle. Malmo has always been an industrialised city but today, it is trying to make the switch to a knowledge based society. Stortorget (Big Square): lies at the heart of Malmo and connects directly to Lilla torg (Small Square). They are conveniently located near to many hotels and the port and train station. The Big Square was originally an important trading centre but is now filled with mostly shops, cafes and restaurants. Malmo Castle (Malmohus): this Renaissance style castle is probably the most famous attraction in Malmo. It was constructed by Eric of Pomerania in the 15th century, and then following its destruction was rebuilt by King Christian III in the early 16th century. It was also used as a prison and its most notable inmate was The Earl of Bothwell (husband of Mary Queen of Scots) who was incarcerated here for five years. Today, the castle houses the Natural History museum and the Art museum. Malmo Art Museum: has the largest collection of Nordic art in the country and is located in Malmo Castle. There is also a display of modern art and some textiles and furniture. Featured artists include Henrik Olesen, Olafur Eliasson, Annika Strom and Lars Arrhenius. Toy Museum (Leksaksland): is a great place to take the kids and features a range of toys from McDonald’s happy meal toys to Barbie Dolls. The permanent exhibitions include a world history that has model railways, car tracks and dinosaurs. A "hands on" section is particularly popular with the younger visitors who can play with various items. | 
