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Aland is popular as a quiet and safe place where is a lot to see and experience. Aland has only one town with about 10 000 inhabitants called Mariehamn, which is situated on a narrow peninsula. Outside this town there is a pristine and genuine countryside. It is an autonomous Swedish region in Finland with own stamps, flag and web domain. The largest unit of the archipelago is formed by several islands connected with bridges.

Geography

The Aland archipelago has a great strategically advantageous position. The surface is basically rocky, worn smooth by the inland ice, with the typical red colour of the Aland’s granite.

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Top Places - Aland

Nr. Place Points Rating Vote
1
 Aland Maritime Museum 0 0  
2
 Aland School Museum 0 0  
3
 Jarso 0 0  
4
 Kokar 0 0  
5
 Mariehamn 0 0  
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Top Experiences - Aland

Nr. Experience Points Rating Vote
1
 The Castle Course 0 0  
2
 Taking part in the Medieval Festival 0 0  
3
 Snail Safari 0 0  
4
 Fishing in Aland 0 0  
5
 Cycling along red granite roads 0 0  

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Nr. Place Points Rating  1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10
1
Aland Maritime Museum (click for more information)

– located in the west harbour of Mariehamn. It is one of the world’s best museums that display the final phase of the large sailing ships. The strong maritime traditions of Aland are documented in this museum.

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2
Aland School Museum (click for more information)

– can be found in Vårdö. The museum was built in 1888 by Viktor Jansson. The history of the educational system in Aland is displayed in the rooms.

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3
Jarso (click for more information)

– this favorite tourist locality is situated about 12 km south from the city. It is the most spectacular at the beginning of the summer, as the area gets covered by thousands of blooming flowers.

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4
Kokar (click for more information)

– if you wish to leave the central island this is a place for you. There are about 300 inhabitants but the village is very nice with a beautiful church of St. Anna. It is easily accessible by ferry.

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5
Mariehamn (click for more information)

– the only city in Aland was founded in 1861 by Alexander II. About half of the whole population of Aland lives here. Various kinds of entertainment are provided by this capital.

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6
Saltvik (click for more information)

– there are several archaeological sites that prove the presence of the Vikings on this island in the 10th century. Some people even claim that the Viking’s capital Birka was located here. But there unfortunately is no proof for such a theory.

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7
St. Brigitta (click for more information)

– the church is located on the Lemland Island. It was one of the oldest wooden churches in the area but has recently been rebuilt with stone. There are paintings coming from the 13th century inside, which belong to the best pieces of its kind in Finland.

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8
The Castle of Kastelholm (click for more information)

The Castle of Kastelholm was built at the end of the 14th century. The castle has been restored in the recent times and is happily open for all the visitors.

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9
The Eckero Island (click for more information)

– there is a very interesting church, which was built in the 13th century, next to the chapel from the 10th century.

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10
The Museum-ship Pommern (click for more information)

The vessel “Pommern” is really unique, because it is preserved in its original condition. Since 1957 Pommern has become a museum-ship.

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Why to visit Aland


Aland is popular as a quiet and safe place where is a lot to see and experience. Aland has only one town with about 10 000 inhabitants called Mariehamn, which is situated on a narrow peninsula. Outside this town there is a pristine and genuine countryside. It is an autonomous Swedish region in Finland with own stamps, flag and web domain. The largest unit of the archipelago is formed by several islands connected with bridges.

Geography

The Aland archipelago has a great strategically advantageous position. The surface is basically rocky, worn smooth by the inland ice, with the typical red colour of the Aland’s granite.

There are 6 500 islets belonging to the archipelago so the sea is always present. The nature preservation is well developed in Aland, which has own nature conservation laws. There are about 40 nature reserves, which preserve different kinds of life for the future generations.

Transport

The best way how to travel in Aland is definitely to take a bike and ride. The routes going through the mainland are very well signed. But if you’re at least a little adventurous you can try to find you own paths. Travelling on foot is a bit more problematic. There are several circles thematically focused on some special attraction, but the traffic is not that high so you can from time to time take the bike routes and than again head into the quiet forests and fresh meadows and to the coast with shouting sea-gulls.

Culture and Traditions

The islands have been through many of the historical epochs which is also reflected in the culture. There are the Scandinavian traditions together with the original additions of the Aland people. Hunting and fishing yet today play probably the most important role as a mean of livelihood. Traditional food and drinks are always available. Despite the fact that most of the specialities are based on fish, there are very popular pancakes, with its classic condiments – stewed prunes and whipped cream - and a bread called Black bread, which are both said to be a great delicacy. But how about trying to pike for your evening dinner?



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