Eurajoki: Church, Riverbank and Culture

In the center of Eurajoki, Kustaa Aadolfin Church, Riiko Park and the Ketunpesä riverside environment showcase different sides of the town. The church is a landmark of the church village and center; next to the park at Mäkitie 9, fitness steps have about 70 steps. Ketunpesä adds a green, nature-rich riverside landscape to the town center.

Church and riverbank in the town center

The Neoclassical Kustaa Aadolfin Church was completed in 1803 and named after Gustav II Adolf. Its architecture and role as a landmark make it a prominent reference point in the church village. Riiko Park offers a different focus: right beside it, the fitness steps, with approximately 70 steps, invite visitors to get active. Those exploring the town center will also find Ketunpesä, a green, nature-rich riverside environment. The church, park and riverbank thus appeal to different interests, without requiring a specific itinerary.

Museums and cultural heritage in the municipality

Irjantee, in the municipality, is home to a cultural center and seven museum complexes. These include an agricultural museum, a local history museum in a former loan storehouse, a pharmacy museum, a weapons museum, a school museum, a small fire service museum and the Munakari Room, with objects belonging to the Suominen fishing brothers. Together, the museums contain about 6,000 objects. Their topics range from agriculture and everyday history to schools, firefighting, pharmacy and fishing.

The agricultural museum features, among other things, a steam engine, a wood-gas tractor, other tractors and threshing machines. Exhibits also include a horse-powered sweep, a working wind motor and Finland’s first combined seed drill. Old agricultural tools and machinery round out the collection; other objects illustrate blacksmithing, fishing and forestry. The exhibits thus offer a glimpse beyond individual machines into different types of work and the tools used for them.

The Irjantee Cultural Center includes a wooden church built in 1731, with a bell tower and churchyard, the Åke Tott memorial stone, a memorial post for the forest-clearing horses and Marjatta Weckström’s Elämänpuu statue. The Eurajoki River and rapids flow near Irjantee’s museums. On the opposite bank from Mullila stands Faltun saha, a historic former sawmill and mill building. The river setting and traces of past work give the area a different historical focus from the collections in Irjantee.

Manor, science and nature

In the wider municipality of Eurajoki, outside the town center, Vuojoen Kartano combines historical themes with visitor experiences and accommodation. Role-playing tours led by costumed guides explore the manor’s history and everyday life in different eras. Themed tours cover the Björkenheim family, Engel’s designs and the history of the house from the 19th century to the present day. The main building displays a restored Könni clock that is almost 200 years old; the Orangery offers an insight into the history of garden culture. It is also home to Kartanokahvila Orangeria, in a historic, conservatory-like room. Visits and overnight stays should be booked in advance. Accommodation rooms are available to book, offering a night in a historic setting.

In the wider municipality of Eurajoki, outside the town center, the Olkiluoto Visitor Centre offers an accessible introduction to how a nuclear power plant works and the journey of uranium fuel. The interactive science exhibition provides information about nuclear energy and uses, among other things, buttons, a bicycle and information packs. According to visitor information, general visits are free; have identification ready on arrival, and note that photography is permitted only inside the Visitor Centre. Check the latest visitor information in advance. Guided group visits include a welcome coffee, a company presentation, the “Sähköä uraanista” exhibition and a visit to the power plant’s waste tunnel. The ONKALO exhibition on the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel can also be visited there. An observation trail runs right next to the Visitor Centre, where visitors can get to know Olkiluoto’s natural environment. The exhibition and trail therefore offer different focuses: technical information on the one hand and local nature on the other.

Kaunissaari is a nature and recreation destination in the Eurajoki Strait, in the wider municipality and outside the town center of Eurajoki. The approximately 1.2-kilometer cultural trail passes historical sites associated with the island’s former sawmill community. There are also cultural and nature trails, fire pits and three shelters available free of charge to hikers. This combines a nature experience with an insight into the history of the local sawmill community.

Another historical site in the wider municipality, outside the town center of Eurajoki, is the Liinmaa site in Kaukenpiele. The medieval wooden castle stood at the end of Väkkäränlahti Bay and was protected by two ramparts and the water. It was used to control trade and traffic in the Gulf of Bothnia and was mainly active in the 14th century, possibly as early as the late 13th century. Today, the old ramparts are the most visible feature; some cellar pits can be made out, indicating earlier human activity. The remains described here suggest that the site should be understood as an archaeological location rather than a surviving castle building.

Discover more destinations: Kalliala, Rauma, Kokemäki, Jämijärvi, Eura, Honkajoki, Harjavalta, Pomarkku.

For the regional travel overview: Satakunta.