In Lemland, you can explore three historical perspectives: the architectural history of Lemland Church, the construction of Skeppargården Pellas and Rödhamn’s role in seafaring. When looking for a holiday rental in Lemland, you can first decide which themes matter to your trip: church architecture, a 19th-century building or the maritime past. The wider destination of Åland’s countryside offers a broader perspective.

Church, Skeppargården and seafaring history

Lemland Church is dedicated to Saint Bridget and was probably built around 1275. Its tower, sacristy and porch were added later in the Middle Ages; the present-day chancel was built in 1679. The church therefore cannot be attributed to a single construction phase: its approximate date of origin, later medieval additions and the 1679 chancel belong to different periods in its architectural history.

Skeppargården Pellas was built in 1884 by shipowner Erik Petter Eriksson. This specific date offers a different point of reference from the church’s multiple construction phases. If you want to place historic buildings in their historical context, the church’s medieval building phases can be compared with a structure from the 19th century.

The four skerries that make up Rödhamn add a seafaring perspective. From the Middle Ages onwards, they provided sailors with shelter from storms on the Åland Sea. Unlike the church and Skeppargården Pellas, the focus here is not on individual construction phases or a date of construction, but on the skerries’ role for seafarers. This lets you explore different historical questions in Lemland: how did a church building develop, when was Skeppargården Pellas built, and what role did the skerries play at sea?

Åland’s countryside: more to explore

The wider destination of Åland’s countryside brings together more cultural and landscape themes. At the Bomarsund visitor centre, the area’s history is presented through sound and images. Kastelholm Castle was built as a defensive fortress in the late 14th century. Jan Karlsgården, an open-air museum, is also located in the Kastelholm area. Jomala Church is one of Finland’s oldest stone churches. These examples offer different historical perspectives, from presenting the area’s history and the founding of a fortress to an open-air museum and church architecture.

Prästö is home to cemeteries belonging to Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Lutheran, Catholic and Jewish communities. They are associated with the period when Bomarsund Fortress was built. The Prästö hiking trail takes you past the Russian telegraph station and the Doniken lodging house. Both are among the few surviving Russian buildings in Åland.

The landscape and local food experiences are also part of this broader perspective. A viewing tower stands on Getabergen in Geta, offering far-reaching views in clear weather. The view is therefore weather-dependent. There are several authentic small-scale producers in Åland’s countryside. You can walk among expansive apple orchards to buy the famous apple juice, or visit a caramel workshop and sample handmade sweets. The availability of individual producers may vary.

Discover more destinations

Jomala, Geta, Lumparland, Hammarland, Finström, Eckerö, Saltvik

Back to the main travel overview: Åland’s countryside.