The Åland Museum Card (Museikortet) gives you free admission to four museums of your choice. The card can be bought at most museums, at hotels in Mariehamn and at the Åland Tourist Information, Storagatan 8, tel. +358 (0)18 24 000.

 

KASTELHOLM CASTLE AND JAN KARLSGÅRDEN OPEN-AIR MUSEUM The Kastelholm Castle in Sund was first erected in the 1300's and later rebuilt several times until the 1600's. At the turn of the century 1300/1400, the castle became the seat for an independent area of management under the stewardship of the Swedish king. The bailiff of the castle was also the ruler of the Åland administrative district. Among the bailiffs of Kastelholm, Gustav Vasa's father Erik Johansson, may be mentioned. Gustav Vasa himself also spent time in Åland and kept his own brother Erik XIV prisoner here.
Because of its strategical position in the Baltic Sea, the castle has been pulled into many different conflicts and in the 1500's it was devastated by Danish pirates. A major fire in 1745 finally made the castle a ruin and a complete restoration wasn't started until about 100 years ago. Today the castle renovation is finished. The identity of the castle has been preserved and guided tours retell, in a vivid way, the story about the castle's different functions and its inhabitants over the years. Situated near the castle is Jan Karlsgården, an open-air museum that depicts a typical Åland farm from the 1800's. All the small buildings that characterised a homestead at that time are on display here. Strolling through the area is both educational and relaxing. Bring a picnic basket and have lunch under the wings of the windmill or eat well at Jan Karlsgården's Wärdshus.

BOMARSUND'S FORTRESS RUINS Bomarsund's fortress ruins are also located in the municipality of Sund. The fortress was erected by the occupying Russians in 1832-54. The thought was that Bomarsund should be the first point of defence for Åland. In the vicinity 15 tall guard towers with 20 cannons each were built. An entire town, "Nya Skarpans", was also built in the same area as the fortress. In 1854 English-French troops delivered Åland from the occupational Russian forces and the not yet finished fortress was ruined. In Bomarsund you may walk around and view the more or less ruined remains. Here are also beautiful old grave yards with many Russian names, house foundations from Nya Skarpans, a museum, a hiking trail and breathtaking views from the highest towers.

THE FLOWER MEADOWS IN SPRING If you visit Åland in spring you should not miss the wonderful spring flowers that grow in large areas in the nature parks. Already by the end of April, the hepaticas colour the ground blue, followed by lesser celandine, wood anemones and cowslips in May. Take a stroll in Tullarn's Äng in Mariehamn, or a hike at Ramsholmen in Jomala just outside the boundaries of town, or at Nåtö in Lemland, south of Mariehamn. The beauty of the wildflowers is beyond anything you've ever experienced.

ÅLAND'S MARITIME MUSEUM AND POMMERN Both Åland's Maritime museum and the four-masted bark Pommern are situated to the Western harbour in Mariehamn. The museum is dominated by the sailing ship era and in the collections there are many fine authentic artefacts such as figureheads, a pirate flag, old instruments, sailing ship models and ship's bells. Here you will also find the captain salon from the sunken ship Herzogin Cecilie that made the Åland Maritime museum world famous. Down in the harbour Pommern is moored. This is the only freight sailing ship of its kind, preserved in its original state - in the world. Go onboard and be fascinated by the interesting captain salon, the enormous cargo area and the small sailor's galleys. Pommern used to sail between Europe and South America in the beginning of the 1900's and she has never had a motor. There are guided tours in the summer.

THE ARCHIPELAGO One of Åland's greatest sights is the archipelago. There are also several high class sights on the archipelago islands. For example Kumlinge Church with murals without equal in Sweden or Finland and a crucifix from the 1300's. The museum homestead Hermas at Enklinge, with a large number of preserved old artefacts and buildings from an authentic old farm. At Kökar there are ruins from a Franciscan convent from the 1300's.
Åland wouldn’t be Åland if it wasn't for all the fine islands and skerries, and these might be Åland's greatest attractions. You haven't really experienced Åland until you've seen the sun rise above the calm sea sitting on a red rock on one of the 6,500 islands.

Source: Åland Tourist Information website: www.visitaland.com and Åland in Brief brochure published by Åland Parliament and Åland Government