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Town in Ostrobothnia, Finland
Photo: Photograph: Tomisti, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kristinestad (Finnish: Kristiinankaupunki) is a town on the Ostrobothnian coast in Western Finland. Like many other towns in coastal Ostrobothnia, Kristinestad is bilingual with a Swedish speaking majority. The town has profiled itself as a small town where old and new meets in a unique way; it's motto is "Det Goda Livet" ("The Good Life"). Kristinestad was accepted as a Cittaslow town in 2011.
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Kristinestads rådhus
Neoclassical-styled town hall from the 19th century by Ernst Lohrmann.
Museum by the shore of the lake Storträsket. Originally summer villa of a shipowner, one of several such of the rich of the late 19th century. Summer hotel 1922–1945. Private museum from 1960, since 2002 run by the town.
Museum showing how a rich merchant lived 1760–1850 (interiors from different epochs). Museum since 1939. The adjacent Felén house shows later 19th century interiors, and is used for temporary exhibitions and events. Guiding included.
Kristinestads sjöfartsmuseum
On the seafaring and shipbuilding history of the town.
Open air museum: a fishing village with some 30 buildings. Restaurant on site, accommodation in modern buildings: apartments (4–6 persons, with kitchenette, shower and toilet). Reservations two days in advance. Guest harbour (depth 2.4 m at MSL).
Good view of the sea.
A 6-km nature trail that leads over Tegelbruksbacken ("tile factory hill"), by a bridge over Tjöck å, over the wetlands in the end of the bay and to a birdwatching tower. Parking in both ends. The start and end points are 250 and 850 m respectively from the ends of the bridge.
À la carte, lunch and pizza.
Lunch buffet all year in weekdays. À la carte and pizzas in summer, occasionally off season. Special architecture, nice sea view (to the bay) if you get a suitable table.
Camping site by the bay shore.
Hotel.
Small hotel in the centre at two addresses. Breakfast included as ingredients, buffet in July. Kitchenette in the rooms, Wi-Fi and sauna included.
By car
As with most of small towns in rural Finland, car is the easiest way to get in. The fastest option is the E8.
By bus
Most intercity buses along E8 make the detour to Kristinestad.
By bus
The coaches can be used for some of the villages, such as Tjöck, Lappfjärd and Dagmark. Check the routes of the buses from Vaasa via Närpes using the stop list at Matkahuolto.
By taxi
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Vaasa · International · VAA
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