Sub-region in Southwest Finland, Finland
Photo: J. Albert Vallunen (albval), CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Vakka-Suomi countryside is the west coast of Finland Proper, north of the Archipelago Sea and Turku.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Municipal tourist information of Mynämäki, including Karjala and Mietoinen.
Mynämäki guide association
The tourism association of Pyhämaa: Pyhämaan matkailuyhdistys.
The office for municipal services acts as tourist information for Vehmaa when open, otherwise the library (see Connect below) provides that service.
Villnäs slott
Manor from 1655 with English landscape garden. The property belonged to the mighty Fleming family 1450–1791 and to the Mannerheim family 1795–1903. Birthplace of Gustaf Mannerheim. Now a museum. Closed for the 2025 season because of budget cuts.
Mynämäen museo
Rectory hall from early 1900s, textile industry, Olavi Ahlgren art exhibition, and changing exhibitions.
Viiasten kartanomuseo
Local history museum in a mansion from 1779 and surrounding buildings, both on the mansion itself and general local history. Café and museum shop (postcards and books).
Tavastilan kotiseutumuseo
Local history museum in old farm. Main building from mid-19th century, used as school 1882–1954. 19th century windmill from Lokalahti. The exhibition touches the school system, handicraft, home economics and agriculture. Small herb garden. Maintained by the village association.
Local history museum, including stone quarrying and stone work, and an allotment croft. See also the quarry trail Tummamäen luontopolku in Do.
Built as manor church. Current shape from 1653, when the Fleming family resided at the manor, at the zenith of the Swedish Empire. By the church is a memorial for the "Mannerheim knights", decorated in World War II.
Wooden church in Gothic Revival style, built 1869. Local history museum in the yard (see above).
Medieval stone church, probably built between 1460 and 1480. The 14th century stone chapel has been transformed into the sacarist. The crusifix and baptismal font are from the 13th-century wooden chapel preceding it. In the yard is a local history museum: Kemppien tupa.
Church built 1641–1643 by Henrik Klausson Fleming.
Third in size among medieval stone churches in Finland, probably built in the 1430s, when Magnus Tavast from Mynämäki was Bishop of Finland. Dedicated to Saint Lawrence.
Taivassalon kirkko
15th century "grey stone" church
Medieval "grey stone" church.
Laajoki river by canoe or bike, the latter a 13.5 km route. B&B accommodation in flying tent for two or normal room (double, not in winter). Shared facilities. River beach, garden. Advance booking needed.
Frisbee course in wooded terrain.
Amateur theatre, mostly musical comedy.
Kayaking route off Lemu. The 30-km ring route consists of seven 2.5–7.7 km legs in the archipelago between Askainen, Lemu, Masku, Naantali and Merimasku. As sea kayaking this is a sheltered area, but still not suitable for beginners at fresh winds. The four 2.5–4.4 km eastern legs have their endpoint on the mainland, the northernmost of them (numbered 3) is at the Kuurnanpää beach (see below). The northern part of the route features bird wetlands, don't get too close in spring and summer.
Jaakkolan islanninhevostalli
Riding lessons and countryside excursions.
Hiking trails in Lemu: three routes connected by small roads, together some 20 km. The trails connect also to the hiking route network of Mietoinen. Reisvuori and Verainen each has a lean-to shelter with campfire site and dry toilet. Each of the routes features a lookout point. The Kuuvanvuori route goes through a nature reserve.
Bird sanctuary by the mouth of Laajoki. Bird watching towers.
Lake with rich nesting birdlife. Unmanned visitor centre on-site. As of 2021 the birdwatching tower is in bad shape and should not be used. The visitor centre, its dry toilet and the observation platform nearby are accessible by wheelchair.
Bird wetland. Nature path to an observation tower (possibly removed for renewal as of 2021).
Nature trail by stone querry (1.6 km). Lean-to shelter, campfire site, dry toilets. Guiding by agreement, otherwise free.
A 4-km nature trail around the shores of the peninsula Pamprinniemi. Birdlife, seascapes, old spuce woods, old pines, posters on biblical themes. The area is on grounds of the congregation, but belongs to the Natura 2000 network (PDF map).
Sauna with beach. Maintained by the local village association.
Lakeside sauna with beach. Ice swimming in winter.
Library. Public computers and Wi-Fi. Bike to borrow (leave passport as deposit), to be return at latest 15 min before the library closes.
Library and tourist information. Wi-Fi. PCs, ipads; scanner, printer etc. Changing exhibitions (mostly local artists).
Thai restaurant.
"Speciality: ordinary grill fare".
Veraisen Leipomo
Bakery and restaurant/café
Kotileipomo Taina Vuorio
Summer café, bakery and catering.
Most dishes based on fish, some dishes from their own catch (at least the salmon probably from elsewhere). Best offer for vegetarians probably their cheese salad. In summer also pizzas and beef. Accommodation in the yard (see Sleep)
Market sale: fish, food, baked goods.
Café-grill-restaurant. Jetty (depth 1 m), boat ramp and laundrette.
Lunch buffet. Meals for groups. Meetings, get-aways and celebrations. Accommodation. Fishing trips. In the yard there is a reconstruction on defences at the eastern front during World War II; ask for the key to the dugout at the restaurant.
Restaurant ship. Also marin fuel and hire of personal water craft.
Grill and bakery; lunch buffet. Tourist info.
Grill fare, salads and pizza. Lunch of the day cafeteria-like.
Kitchen and sauna available.
Lean-to shelter on the Reisvuori route.
Lean-to shelter on the Verainen route
B&B. Café open when hosts at home. Meals by advance request.
Caravan camping and cottage (own linen).
Kilan rälssitila
Small house (three rooms) at a small mansion.
Pirtin kamari
Rooms and sauna building; apartment in the village centre. Meals at Pyhämaan pirtti across the yard by agreement.
Camping and cottages. Beach. Rowing boat available, canoes for hire. Shared sauna daily 18:00–22:00 included. Café (which works as reception) with fast food, open daily June–August, lunch W Su; karaoke or events with live music in summer weekends.
Cottages by the sea and accommodation in an old farmhouse. Running water and electricity. The farmhouse has four rooms, kitchen/living room and wood-fired sauna. Linen and breakfast ingredients included in a farmhouse stay, to be booked in advance (exclusive use). The cottages are in summer available only for whole weeks. Rowing boat and kayak or canoe included with some cottages. Small motorboats for hire (20 Hp outboard engine), to be kept at the shore of the cottage or in Hakkeenpää.
Guest harbour. Camping by caravan or tent. A few rooms are also available. Sauna included (one for men, one for women).
A few rooms at a former farm. Linen included, shared toilet. Summer café with light meals and delicacies (from Midsummer onwards). Events. Organic clothes for sale. Main business meetings and celebrations.
Accommodation in the yard of an old farm, in new accommodation buildings (four rooms in all). No pets. Linen, sauna, kitchen and communal space included. Cash or pre-paid only. The 17th century Great Post Route from Stockholm to Turku made landfall by the Helsinki village, and a stretch of it is well preserved here, between the shore and the modern roads.
Marina and boatyard. Fuel, sewage emptying, showers, sauna, Floating restaurant Lilla Pärlan, with pizza and barbecue, also take-away and delivery. Camping.
Seaside cottages (½–1 km from the "reception"), 2+2 persons (one for 2+4). Electricity, running water, stove, oven, tableware, indoor toilet, shower, wood-heated sauna, indoor fireplace, swimming jetty, linen included. Rowing boat in season. Pets welcome.
Caravan camping, open year round. Kiosk. Child friendly beach. Rowing boats. Wi-Fi.
Camping site.
Rooms with hostel standard. Cottages for longer stays.
Small grocery store with café. Intends to only sell domestic, preferably local produce.
Small country-side shop. Groceries, souvenirs; also flowers, hardware etc.; fuel, post services.
Groceries and some other products. Also a second hand shop.
Grocery store. Also postal services (Posti and Schenker). Cash withdrawal when shopping with some cards. Prepaid SIM-cards.
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