Raahe
The port of Raahe
A perfect small town full of maritime history
Naturally beautiful and full of history. The Old Raahe is one of the Finland’s best-preserved concentration of nineteenth-century wooden houses. The sea and archipelago, vibrant cultural life and inviting museums make for a highly enjoyable stay in this historic town. The town’s main sources of livelihood have been commercial seafaring and shipbuilding since 17th century.
A new port for cruise visits.
Welcome to Raahe
Port attractions and shore excursions
The Old Town Raahe - Charm of the wood architechture
Old Town Raahe is one of the best-preserved 19th-century wooden towns in Finland. Not a museum area but a living town district, Old Raahe tells the tale of the construction of a town and life in it from centuries ago to the modern day.
Excursion example: Have a guided walking tour in the Old Town and visit the impressive stone church and the Trade House Lang for shopping typical goods from the 1870 according to the tall ships’ cargo books and some of the goods are imported from the very same ports as during the tall ships’ era. After the shopping have a nice cup of coffee and a piece of delicious home made cake in Trade House’s historic atmosphere.
Museums of Raahe - The maritime history
There are interesting museums to visit in Raahe. The Packhouse Museum, the former sailors’ house, lies in Old Raahe by the sea. The oldest of the local museums introduces its visitors to the illustrious age of sailing ships in Raahe and the exotic treasures that the sailors brought back home from their travels. And much more. The Crown Granary, is located a short walk from the centre Raahe. The museum sheds light on Raahe’s past from prehistory to modern times and also currently holds the famous oldest diving suit in the world: the Old Gentleman.
Excursion example: Take a bike and see more! Have a guided biking tour in the maritime town scenery, the parks and the Old Town Raahe and stop along the route to visit the museum exhibitions.
The Holy Trinity Church of Raahe - A red granite landmark
The red granite stone church, designed by Josef Stenbäck, was completed in 1912. It represents a national romantic style. The church is built of granite slabs, which are mostly mined from the islands next to Raahe. The church tower is 52 meters high and the church has space for about 1000 people. It has served as a landmark and lighthouse for seafarers. In the altar is a painting painted by Eero Järnefelt in 1926, Jesus calms the storm.
The Archipelago - Marine nature, birds and landscapes
The beautiful Raahe archipelago, Finnish Outdoor Destination of the Year 2016, is right in front of the town. The compact urban archipelago consists of around 50 small islands and islets. The archipelago forms a scenically valuable entity shaped by post-glacial rebound and early means of livelihood, such as cattle herding, fishing and maritime transport.
Excursion example: Spend a beautiful summer day exploring nearby islands by boat. See the historical wooden lighthouses on the islands of Iso-Kraaseli and Tasku built in 1853. During the excursion you will see also other historic places and new lighthouses. The day is crowned by a coffee break on a scenic island.