In the centre of Eurajoki, the neoclassical Kustaa Aadolfin kirkko and a green riverside setting lie close together. Cultural sites and natural attractions are also spread throughout the municipality. For planning purposes, it is therefore worth considering the town centre and the other excursion destinations separately: the sights vary considerably, from church architecture and industrial history to insights into nuclear power.
Town Centre and Riverside
Kustaa Aadolfin kirkko is a landmark of the church village and the centre of Eurajoki. The neoclassical church was completed in 1803 and named after Gustav II Adolf. Anyone interested in architectural history will find a tangible point of interest right in the centre. Next to Riiko Park, at Mäkitie 9, there are fitness steps with about 70 steps.
Ketunpesä adds a green, nature-rich riverside setting in the church village to this perspective on the town centre. The municipality also brings together riverside scenery and history: the Eurajoki River and rapids flow near the museums of Irjantee. On the opposite bank, on the Mullila side, stands Faltun saha, a historic former sawmill and mill building. In this same regional theme, you can encounter both the riverside landscape and traces of earlier work on the water.
Museums and Historic Sites in the Municipality
The museums of Irjantee comprise seven museum complexes: an agricultural museum, a local history museum in a former loan granary, a pharmacy museum, a weapons museum, a school museum, a small fire brigade museum, and the Munakari Room, with objects belonging to the Suominen fishing brothers. The collections comprise about 6,000 objects in total. The agricultural museum includes a steam engine, a wood-gas tractor, other tractors and threshing machines, a horse-powered mill, a working wind motor, and Finland’s first combination seed drill. Old tools and machines are complemented by objects relating to blacksmithing, fishing and forestry.
The site of the medieval Liinmaa Castle is in Kaukenpiele. The wooden castle stood at the end of Väkkäränlahti and was protected by two ramparts and the water. It served to control trade and traffic in the Gulf of Bothnia and was used mainly in the 14th century, possibly as early as the late 13th century. Today, the old ramparts are the most visible feature; some cellar pits can be made out, pointing to earlier human habitation.
Kaunissaari is a nature and recreation destination in the Eurajoki strait. It has cultural and nature trails, campfire sites and three shelters freely available to hikers. The approximately 1.2-kilometre cultural trail passes historic sites of the island’s former sawmill community. Kaunissaari therefore offers a way to combine nature with the history of the former sawmill, without conflating the two.
Olkiluoto and Vuojoen Kartano
At the Olkiluoto Visitor Centre, you can learn how a nuclear power plant works and what route uranium fuel takes. The science exhibition explores nuclear energy through interactive features, including buttons, a bicycle and information packs. There is no admission fee for standard visits. Plan to bring proof of identity when arriving in Olkiluoto; photography is permitted only in the Visitor Centre. Check these requirements again before your visit. A nature trail runs right next to the centre, where you can get to know Olkiluoto’s natural surroundings.
Guided group visits to Olkiluoto include welcome coffee, a company presentation, the “Sähköä uraanista” exhibition and a visit to the power plant’s waste cavern. The ONKALO exhibition on the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel can also be visited there. These activities are part of a guided group visit; they do not describe what is included in a regular visit.
At Vuojoen Kartano, costumed guides lead role-play tours through the manor’s history and everyday life in different eras. Themed tours cover the Björkenheim family, Engel’s designs, and the manor’s history from the 19th century to the present day. The main building houses a restored Könni clock that is almost 200 years old; the Orangeria offers an insight into the history of garden culture. Rooms in a historic setting can be booked for an overnight stay at the manor. Visits and overnight stays should be booked in advance. If you are looking for hotels in Eurajoki, comparing them with this independent accommodation option provides a practical alternative for planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Ulvila, Merikarvia, Huittinen, Kankaanpää, Säkylä, Honkajoki, Rauma, Kokemäki.
For the regional travel overview: Satakunta.
