Municipality in Åland, Finland
Photo: Olaf Kosinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0 de via Wikimedia Commons
Sund is a municipality in mainland Åland. Here you can find two of the archipelago's main sights, Kastelholm castle and the ruined fortification of Bomarsund.
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Kastelholms slott
A medieval castle in the mid-part of the mainland, worth paying a visit. Partly a ruin today, it was founded in the 1380s. There are guided tours in the high season (mid-June to mid-August), mostly in Finnish, but also in Swedish and English. An audio tour is available for Android devices. There are lots of staircases in the castle so the tour is not suitable for disabled people. Ticket price also include entrance to the Vita Björn prison museum.
The museum consist of a number of traditional buildings moved here from other parts of Åland to form a late-1800s agricultural farm. The main building is from Jan Karls homestead, hence the name. The area is open year round, but access into the buildings only in summer season. Kastelholm area tourist information centre and a good restaurant-cafeteria next door.
The Vita Björn served as Åland's prison for 200 years until 1975. There are four cells giving a glimpse on how prisoners' treatment changed from the 1700s to 1950s. The house include also the residence for the warden and his family and some prison related items like chains and a whipping pole are visible. Guide leaflets in separate languages. The entrance fee is included in the Kastelholm Castle ticket.
Bomarsund fästningsruin
The huge fortress (over 300 m in diameter) was built by the Russians in 1830–1854, but it was never completed, as the establishment was thoroughly ruined during the Crimean War by the allied English-Frenchmen. In 2022, brand new visitor center was built right by the ruins, where visitors are able to see pictures and objects related to the history of the fortress as well as films, models, etc.
Johannes Döparens kyrka
Sund's church is generally understood to be the second oldest church in Åland (and Finland) and the largest one on the archipelago. A Romanesque building characterized by a strong fortified tower, the church is generally opened for visitors in the summer months and host, besides church service, concerts and other events.
Sund's bibliotek
Once the first public school in Åland, the library is opened to the public a few days a week (generally Monday, Tuesday and Thursday). In there you can find newspapers, magazines, and a lot of books, as well as small exhibition spaces.
The local youth culture organization has been active since 1906 and manages a club house where various events take place throughout the year such as markets, concerts, theater plays and more. In front of the club house stands the Finby village's midsummer pole.
On the other side of the water by the castle, the green is opened from early May until October and features two 18-hole course and a clubhouse with changing rooms, lockers and a sauna.
A café and restaurant opened in the summer months.
Fine dining restaurant operated by Åland's celebrity chef Micke Björklund.
Bistro, café and bar with a marina available for both locals and visiting sailors.
A café/restaurant with a little grocery shop section, a gas pump and a charging station for electric cars.
A creamery that produces renowned cheese. The owners operate a cosy café in the summer.
The restaurant and café are on the golf club grounds and are open throughout the whole season.
Has three own home-distillers. They make spirits and gin from the fruits at the vineyard. The apple vodka is called Ålvados, which is a kind of Calvados. They also make wine (Västergårds Äppelvin) with apples that have ripened on the farm's own trees. You can visit the vineyard, walk around among the fruit trees and see how the wine is produced. The guided tour ends in the old threshing house and here you can sample the drinks directly from the wine cellar. Also operate a café and restaurant in the summer months.
Campsite with cabins.
A combined second-hand and outlet store, Shoppis has a surprisingly great selection of clothes, toys, interior decoration, home appliances and more. Opens also Fridays in the summer, and sometimes has a little café kiosk open then as well.
Sund is some 20 km north-east from Mariehamn. Highway 2 connecting Mariehamn and Vårdö passes through Sund. From the Finnish mainland there is a connection via Brändö and Vårdö, in addition to the main one via Mariehamn.
Read in the guideThe most convenient way of getting around is by bike or car. Buses serve part of the municipality, with sparse schedules.
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