Rauma: Medieval Wooden Houses and Archipelago Nature

Rauma combines an unusually long history with a lively lace culture and experiences in the archipelago. In Old Rauma, around 600 predominantly wooden buildings shape the historic centre; outside the town, there are waterside paths, marked hiking trails and islands. You can tailor your stay to whether you mainly want to explore local history and museums or spend more time in nature.

Rauma at a glance

• Old Rauma covers 29 hectares and has around 600 predominantly wooden buildings.
• Rauma Lace Week takes place every year in late July; the festival was first held in 1971.
• Rauma Art Museum is located in Pinnala House in Old Rauma.
• Four tourist islands in the archipelago offer opportunities for hiking and nature experiences.
• Syväraumanlahti offers waterside paths near the centre and a trail to Fåfängan.

Old Rauma: history in wood

Old Rauma is the historic centre of one of Finland’s few medieval towns. Around 600 buildings, predominantly made of wood, are spread across 29 hectares. The area’s size and the number of houses mean that its historic character is not defined by a single building: what stands out is the interplay of an extensive, predominantly wooden urban landscape. If you are interested in architecture and earlier urban history, this offers a different focus from a stay centred mainly on nature and water.

Rauma is also one of Finland’s oldest ports and was founded around a Franciscan monastery. The Church of the Holy Cross, dating from the mid-15th century, stands by the monastery. Together with Old Rauma, this history offers several ways to explore the town: through its medieval centre, its monastic origins and the port’s long-standing importance. You can consider these themes as a cultural backdrop to your stay without reducing them to the same era or the same building.

Lace, the market square and cultural traditions

Lacemaking has been part of Rauma’s history since at least the 17th century. An annual highlight is Rauma Lace Week, a town festival held in late July that was first held in 1971. Late July is therefore the recurring time for the festival week; the exact dates and programme vary from year to year. The long tradition and the festival offer two different perspectives on lace culture: a historic craft tradition and an annual event in the town calendar.

Locals and producers meet at the market square in Old Rauma, which is also a place of commerce. This offers a different perspective on the historic centre than its architecture: here, everyday exchange takes centre stage. So if you want to explore the town’s history through more than just its buildings, the market square is also a worthwhile stop on a walk around Rauma.

Museums and distinctive buildings

Rauma Art Museum is located in Pinnala House in Old Rauma. The main building was built in 1795 and has one of the best-preserved courtyards in Old Rauma. This brings together the history of a single house and the present-day art museum in one place. The museum offers public guided tours throughout the year; specific programme details may vary.

In summer, Rauma Art Museum lends Art Bikes free of charge. Visitors can use them to take their own tours of art and culture in Rauma. The bikes are a seasonal offering, while public guided tours take place year-round. So if you want to shape your stay around culture, these are two different options: a guided museum visit or an independent tour on an Art Bike in summer.

Marela adds another dimension to the museums as a house museum of merchant and shipowner families. Its interior conveys the lifestyle of a former shipowner family. This brings the history of domestic life and the families associated with trade and seafaring into view alongside art and architecture. The Old Town Hall, completed in 1776, is also one of the town’s historic buildings.

Waterside paths and nature in the archipelago

For a change of scenery from historic buildings to the landscape, Syväraumanlahti near the centre of Rauma offers lovely views and walking paths. You can walk along the shore by the marina or follow a trail to the headland of Fåfängan. This outing combines a waterside walk with a specific destination in the landscape, without requiring a longer hike.

Rauma’s archipelago has four scenic tourist islands that offer opportunities to relax, hike and enjoy nature. A marked trail network there covers more than 30 kilometres. It includes paths through the Bothnian Sea National Park; there are fire pits and reservable cabins along the network. The options are not limited to a single kind of stay: you can consider hiking, breaks at fire pits and a cabin stay as different aspects of an archipelago trip.

Kayaking is another option in the archipelago. Numerous islands and sheltered bays offer suitable conditions for trips by beginners and experienced kayakers, as well as access to nature trails. On Nurmes, hiking trails cross the entire island through easy terrain. They are suitable for day trips and, together with connected routes, cover several dozen kilometres. These details describe two different ways to explore: kayaking between islands and sheltered bays, and hiking on Nurmes’s trails.

Part of the landscape is also included in a protected area: in 2015, Kylmäpihlaja, the western part of Kuuskajaskari, and several other smaller islands and water areas were added to the Bothnian Sea National Park. This protected landscape adds another dimension to the archipelago’s opportunities for hiking and nature experiences.

Which aspects suit your stay?

If you are mainly interested in historic architecture, lace culture and museums, Old Rauma, the market square and the museums offer good starting points. For more time outdoors, the walks at Syväraumanlahti, the trails on Nurmes and the archipelago’s trail network offer different kinds of nature experiences. These are not interchangeable options: the town’s attractions focus on buildings, crafts and museum culture, while the islands put hiking, kayaking and landscapes centre stage.

The timing of your visit may also influence your choice. Lace Week takes place every year in late July, and Art Bikes are available to borrow in summer. In summer, Syväraumanlahti Harbour is the departure point for scheduled archipelago services. The tourist islands can be reached by scheduled boat or water taxi. A hotel in Rauma is one option to consider for your stay in town; the right choice depends on which aspects of Rauma interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Huittinen, Kankaanpää, Jämijärvi, Honkajoki, Eurajoki, Luvia and Aikkila.

Frequently asked questions about Rauma

What makes Old Rauma special?

Old Rauma is the historic centre of one of Finland’s few medieval towns. Around 600 predominantly wooden buildings stand across 29 hectares. The market square is both a meeting place and a place of commerce for locals and producers.

When does Rauma Lace Week take place?

The town festival takes place every year in late July and was first held in 1971. The exact dates and programme vary from year to year. Lacemaking in Rauma dates back at least to the 17th century.

What cultural offerings are available at Rauma Art Museum?

The museum is located in Pinnala House in Old Rauma. It offers public guided tours throughout the year. In summer, it lends Art Bikes free of charge for independent tours of art and culture in Rauma.

How do you reach the tourist islands in the archipelago?

The tourist islands can be reached by scheduled boat or water taxi. In summer, Syväraumanlahti Harbour is the departure point for scheduled archipelago services.

What opportunities for hiking and kayaking does the area offer?

The archipelago has a marked trail network of more than 30 kilometres, including paths through the Bothnian Sea National Park, with fire pits and reservable cabins. Hiking trails on Nurmes cross easy terrain; together with connected trails, they cover several dozen kilometres. Islands and sheltered bays in the archipelago also offer opportunities for kayaking trips for beginners and experienced kayakers.

For the main travel guide: Satakunta.