KRISTIANSTAD (CHRISTIANSTAD)  , a port of Sweden, chief town of the district (lan) of Kristianstad, on a peninsula in Lake Sjovik, an expansion of the river Helge, to m. from the Baltic . Pop . (1000), 10,318 . Its harbour, custom-house, &c., are at Ahus at the mouth of the river . It is among the first twelve manufacturing towns of Sweden as regards value of output, having engineering works, flour-mills, distilleries, weaving mills and sugar factories . Granite and wood-pulp are exported, and coal and grain imported . The town is the seat of the court of appeal for the provinces of Skane and Blekinge . It was foundedand fortified in 1614 by Christian IV. of Denmark, who built the fine ornate church . The town was ceded to Sweden in 1658, retaken by Christian V. in 1676, and again acquired by Sweden in 1678 .