Raseborg, Finland

Raseborg (Raasepori in Finnish) was created 1 january 2009 from the towns of Ekenäs and Karis and the district of Pojo. The new town sits midway between Helsinki and Turku, and is easily reached by car, bus or train, and even by boat. The residents here (about 29,000) speak both Swedish and Finnish. Raseborg offers magnificent island views, idyllic small-town atmosphere and unique, well-preserved old ironworks.

In Ekenäs, the cozy coastal town, you find the picturesque Old town where the original charm remains. In the old ironworks at Fiskars, Svartå and Billnäs, there are several interesting sights just waiting to be discovered.

The vast archipelago region with its 1,300 islands is very fascinating to discover and extends from the lush, green, labyrinthine inner archipelago to the last desolate islets and rocks of the open sea. Undulating farmland and forests reaching to the horizon offer a real possibility for living close to nature.

In the spring, the birds’ concerts and the anemone fields that flower everywhere are a simple fact of life for the local people, and when the autumn winds begin to coax the first yellow leaves from the trees, it’s time once again to follow the beautiful play of nature, with its many colourful scenes. In such an environment, it is easy to live.

The rhythm of life is perhaps a little calmer, the pace slightly slower, but the joy of life has a stronger presence. Shared joy is twice the joy: we wish a warm welcome to all our visitors, and we are sure that in our relaxed and easy-going town there will be new things to experience and plenty to enjoy for everybody!

Walk along the narrow lanes in the Old town, where the oldest buildings date from the 18th century. Admire the wooden houses, as well as small boutiques and lovely cafés. Kungsgatan, Finland's oldest pedestrian street where traffic was banned in 1966, starts from the market place and continues towards a marble building designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The unique archipelago with it's 1,300 islands includes the Ekenäs National Park and the mysterious island, Jussarö. In Ekenäs the rhythm of life and nature are in harmony with the superb environment.

Take the train to Karis from Helsinki or Turku. Karis boasts a long and impressive history. The first settlers came to the region during the Stone Age, approximately 10,000 years ago. The number of archeological finds and monuments is staggering. Svartå Slott (Mustion Linna in Finnish) is one of the most historically important buildings in Finland surrounded by an old, beautiful park.

Historic ironworks in a traditional setting. Fiskars ironworks is today internationally known as a centre for art and design. The year around exhibitions, hotels and restaurants services provide a good reason for visiting the ironworks at all times of the year. Many different types of events are arranged in Billnäs which also has become an important centre for building renovation. Pojo also offers activities as golf, horse riding, slalom and skiing in Påminne, Finland's most southerly slalom ski centre.

Did you know that Raseborg extends to a width of more than 100 kilometers from one border to another?