Rauma: Old Town, Lace Culture and Archipelago
Accommodation in Rauma
Rauma combines a historic city centre with experiences in the archipelago. When planning your trip, you can therefore focus on different things: discover the wooden buildings and museums of Old Rauma, or set aside time for island nature, hiking trails and kayaking. Bobbin lace is also part of the city’s history, making Rauma a destination for culture lovers.
Old Rauma and the City’s History
Old Rauma forms the historic core of one of Finland’s few medieval towns. Around 600 buildings, predominantly made of wood, stand across 29 hectares. This gives the city centre its distinctive architectural character, while the size of the protected historic area is also easy to factor into your day’s plans. Rauma is also one of Finland’s oldest ports. The town was laid out around a Franciscan monastery, where the still-standing Church of the Holy Cross dates from the mid-15th century.
Another chapter in the city’s history is bobbin lace, which has been made in Rauma since at least the 17th century. Held every year at the end of July, Rauma Lace Week celebrates this craft and is a city festival first held in 1971. Locals and producers come together in the market square, a place that serves both as a meeting point and a marketplace.
Museums and Cultural Insights
The Rauma Art Museum is located in Pinnala House in Old Rauma. The main Pinnala building was constructed in 1795 and has one of the best-preserved courtyards in Old Rauma. The museum offers public guided tours throughout the year. In summer, it lends out Art Bikes free of charge, allowing visitors to take their own tours of art and culture in Rauma.
Other museums also offer different ways to explore the city’s history. The Old Town Hall was completed in 1776 and now serves as a museum. Marela is a house museum belonging to merchant and shipowner families. Its interior conveys the lifestyle of a former shipowner family. Those interested in architecture, crafts or the lives of wealthy families in the past will find several points of cultural interest here.
Archipelago, Hiking Trails and Water
The Rauma archipelago includes four scenic tourist islands, offering opportunities to relax, hike and enjoy nature. They can be reached by scheduled boat or water taxi. In summer, the harbour at Syväraumanlahti is the departure point for scheduled services in the archipelago. You can add a trip to the islands to your stay in the city without having to follow a set itinerary.
The archipelago has a marked trail network of more than 30 kilometres. This includes trails through the Bothnian Sea National Park; along the network there are campfire sites and cabins that can be reserved. Kayaking is another possible activity: numerous islands and sheltered bays offer trips for beginners and experienced kayakers, as well as access to nature trails. On Nurmes, hiking trails cross the island over easy terrain. They are suitable for day trips and, together with connecting paths, cover several dozen kilometres.
In 2015, Kylmäpihlaja, the western part of Kuuskajaskari, and several smaller islands and areas of water in the archipelago were incorporated into the Bothnian Sea National Park. For walks near the centre, Syväraumanlahti offers a different perspective on the landscape: paths follow the shore by the marina or lead along a trail to the Fåfängan headland.
Other Places in the Location Selection
If you’d like to explore beyond Rauma, the same broader location selection also includes Eurajoki, Harjavalta, Kankaanpää, Kalliala, Ulvila, Säkylä and Kokemäki.
For the broader travel overview: Satakunta.
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