The origin of Skan�r can be traced back to the end of the 12th century and Falsterbo is believed to have arisen shortly before. In around 1220 the Danish king built the Skan�r fortress. S:ta Gertrud church in Falsterbo dates back to the 13th century, possibly the 12th.
Growth
During the late middle ages both towns grew in importance and wealth as during late summer and autumn the peninsula was an important centre of trade and herring fishing in the annual Scania Market (Sk�nemarknaden). The market was held on the beach stretch between Skan�r and Falsterbo and was dominated by the north German Hanseatic cities, primarily L�beck. The Danish king delegated specific areas along the beach to these cities, so called "fit" or "fed", where they had the right to carry out trade during the Scania Market. A large fishing village was located along the beaches of �resund.
Soon thereafter a castle was raised in Falsterbo. In 1311 the castle was destroyed by the Hanseatic League (specifically the trade towns of Rostock, Wismar and Greifswald) in the war between these and the Danish king Erik Menved. After the war the king raised a new and larger castle in 1318 called Falsterbohus. The old castle in Skan�r thus lost its importance thereafter. Olav IV of Norway, son of queen Margaret I of Denmark, died in 1387 in Falsterbohus.
After the herring population declined during the 16th century the Scania Market was dismantled and subsequently the two cities lost their former importance, but retained the town privileges, with joint administration.
Recent history
The two medieval towns Skan�r and Falsterbo were in 1754 united economically under the same mayor. Even so, they have geographically never been considered the same town, and they did not grow together until the late 1960s.
Falsterbo and Skan�r remained small fishing towns until the rail line from Malm��Vellinge was built in 1904. Between 1904 and
