Vaasa * Vaasa: almost a Swedish Finnish city. Holidays in Vaasa Market Square and the Finnish Statue of Liberty

ScandiNews/ Finland. City of Vaasa.

Vaasa is the capital of the region of Ostrobothnia (Österbotten), or Pohjanmaa (Pohjanmaa), in Finnish, located 440 kilometers northwest of Helsinki and 330 kilometers north of Turku, in the narrowest part of the Gulf of Bothnia. The straight line distance from the Vaasa embankment to the Swedish coast is now about 90 kilometers. As a result of ongoing geological processes, the Finnish side of the Gulf of Bothnia rises annually from the water by 8-8.5 mm, which adds 1 square kilometer to the Finnish territory. Scientists predict that in two and a half thousand years a natural dam will form between Finland and Sweden, due to which the Gulf of Bothnia north of Vasa will turn into a closed body of water.

This part of the planet is unique in that the rate of land rise is fast enough that changes can be observed over the life of one generation. The influence of geological processes on the Earth's surface is especially clearly visible in the area of ​​the Kvarken archipelago, 40 kilometers from Vaasa. The archipelago, together with the High Bank (Höga kusten) located on the Swedish side, form a single natural complex (both continue to rise after the glacier retreat), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Vaasa is the capital of the region with a significant Swedish-speaking population. In some towns, 9 out of 10 residents say Swedish is their native language. Residents of Pohjanmaa, even among introverted Finns, have a reputation for being stubborn, reserved and suspicious of outsiders. When communicating with the residents of Vaasa, one gets a completely opposite impression. Perhaps the reputation of “dark types” is a legacy of a difficult historical past

During the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-1809, Vaasa changed hands several times and suffered perhaps more than any other settlement in Finland.

The city even survived street battles and - perhaps the only case during the entire Finnish War - plunder by Russian troops. Their commander, Major General Nikolai Demidov, gave Vaasa to his subordinates for several days, in retaliation for the stubborn resistance of the inhabitants of Ostrobothnia to the Russian military.

During the 1918 war, which the “red” Finns called “civil” and the “white” “liberation”, Vaasa was the official capital of “white” Finland for three months. The overwhelming majority of local residents were against the “reds”; moreover, the city had (and still has) close and well-established ties with the West.

After the end of the war, Vaasa received the honorable right to add to its coat of arms the image of the “Cross of Freedom” - the oldest award of independent Finland, designed by the artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela.

The central square of the city is decorated with a monument to a triumphant soldier of the White Guard, on a pedestal a lion - very similar to its counterparts decorating the royal palace in Stockholm - tramples with its paw a certain reptile (maybe the hydra of the world revolution?).

Today, young people from all over the world “hang out” at the foot of the monument. In a city with a population of about 60,000 people, there are 5 (!) higher educational institutions. Perhaps it is because of this that Vaasa gives the impression of being one of the most “Europeanized”, multinational and dynamic Finnish cities. Even on weekday evenings, life on the streets does not “die”, as is the case in many other settlements of comparable size in Scandinavia.

Vaasa is one of the Finnish ports with regular ferry connections to Sweden. In four and a half hours you can travel by sea to the Swedish city of Umeå.

Representatives of about 90 nationalities, speaking about a hundred languages, have “dissolved” among the residents of Vaasa, and most of them feel comfortable here. Max Jansson, director of the regional tourism bureau, told ScandiNews about this. The fact that the official was hardly exaggerating was confirmed half an hour later during lunch at a pizzeria chosen at random (it turned out to be the closest to the tourism office).

The catering establishment bears the most banal name for such an establishment - “Marco Polo”. During the ordering process, it turned out that the cafe belongs to a family from Italy. While the “pizzaioli” was preparing the food, his colleague entertained the customers with stories from the life of southerners in Finland: how they scare relatives in Sicily by exaggerating the severity of Finnish winters, how they laugh at the Italians’ ideas that there is nothing to eat in Finland, with what pleasure they return from the hot weather and “beautiful, but still not as clean as we have here, well, you understand,” Italy home - in Vaasa.

Pizza in Finland has not surprised anyone for a long time, but talkative catering staff, especially in the provinces, are a rarity. The ice cream, stated in the menu as “Italian, homemade recipe,” perfectly complements the pizza and “smol talk” with the owners of the establishment.

ScandiNews Note:

In the process of writing this text, it unexpectedly turned out that the ice cream served at Marco Polo in Vaasa is included in the list of “Best Ice Cream in the World” compiled by the Americans. The Italian section consists of four dozen recommendations. Finnish is one of the two. Both recommended establishments are located in Bothnia - one in Turku (Cafe Harmonia), the second is the above-described Marco Polo in Vaasa.

Trip Advisor, the world's largest travel site, has awarded the establishment its "Certificate of Excellence."

The history of the name of the city of Vaasa, as an example of respect for traditions, confusing the unprepared traveler

The history of the name of the city, which received this status at the beginning of the 17th century, perfectly illustrates the caring attitude of the inhabitants of the Finnish shores of the Gulf of Bothnia to the history, languages ​​and traditions of their land and the confusion that this undoubtedly worthy approach can create in the minds of travelers.

In 1606, the Finnish village of Mustasaari (Mustasaari - “black island”, Finnish), which was called “Mussor” in the official language of the kingdom, was under the rule of the Swedish crown, received a city charter and a new name - “Vase” (Wasa - Swedish. /Vaasa – Finnish, – in honor of the then ruling dynasty).

Under this name, the city became part of the Russian Empire in 1809. In 1855, Nicholas I, the All-Russian Emperor, died, whose full title included a list of about a hundred lands under his control, including the Grand Duchy of Finland. In memory of the deceased Russian Tsar, the city was renamed in the German style to Nikolaishtadt.

The Swedes called it “Nikolaistadt”, the Finns, in their own way, “Nikolainkaupunkki”, while everyone, not excluding the Russians, used the old name “Vaza”. By that time, the voiced, but absent in the Finnish language, the sound “z” in the name of the city was replaced by a dull “s”.

By the time it was renamed Nikolaishtadt, it was no longer quite the same Vasa that had become part of Russia half a century earlier. The city was completely burned down during the fire of 1852. Over the centuries since the founding of the settlement, due to the rise of the Finnish coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, Vasa, which once stood on the seashore, has moved inland. It was rebuilt in a new way further west than it was located before the fire - and the city again became a seaside one.

About the same thing happened with Turku at one time - it also moved from place to place in accordance with the wishes of its inhabitants.

In 1917, the name "Nikolaystadt" lost its relevance and the city was renamed back to Vasa (Vaasa, in Finnish).

However, while traveling along the eastern shore of the Gulf of Bothnia, you will repeatedly hear all variations of the name - Vasa, Vasa, Vaasa, even Nikolaistadt and Nikolainkaupunkki. The name given to the city in memory of the Russian Tsar is not used for its intended purpose - as the name of a populated area - but guests of the region are told how the city was called from 1855 to 1917.

Vaasa from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Vaasa.

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Vaasa is a quiet, cozy and exceptionally picturesque province of Finland, located on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, just 80 km from Sweden. Perhaps this is why Swedish is the native language of approximately 25% of the city's population. There are several reasons to visit this seemingly boring and non-tourist place. Firstly, amazing nature: forests, valleys, lakes and, of course, the first site in Finland that UNESCO took under its wing - the Kvarken archipelago. Secondly, there are plenty of opportunities for a family holiday in the lap of nature, in, so to speak, an ecologically clean environment, but with all the “goodies” of civilization: comfortable hotels and campsites, fishing, skiing, biking, restaurants and cafes, as well as a water park and mass other entertainment. Thirdly, the Swedish city of Umeå, where you can sail for a couple of days. In the summer - for the open-air water park Umeolagun and the Jalges Hys elk farm, and in the winter - because of the excellent ski centers. Finally, it is no coincidence that Vaasa bears the title of “the cultural heart of Ostrobothnia”: there are almost 20 museums, galleries and even its own city orchestra.

A special feature of this city is its music festivals and arts night, widely known throughout the country.

How to get there

Vaasa is located on the west coast of Finland, at the narrowest point of the Gulf of Bothnia, approximately 80 km from Umeå, Sweden. The most convenient way to get here from Russia is by your own car: it is about 680 km from St. Petersburg, and no more than 420 km from the Finnish capital Helsinki.

In addition, Vaasa has its own airport that accepts flights from Helsinki and some other European cities (the city center is no more than 10 minutes away). Trains also come here: from the capital (1 or 2 transfers, from 50 EUR one way), Oulu and Rovaniemi. Finally, buses: from Turku, Tampere, Oulu, Kokkola and Pori.

Ferries slowly sail to the Swedish city of Umeå almost every day all year round; the journey takes about 4 hours.

Search for flights to Helsinki (the nearest airport to Vaasa)

History paragraph

The history of the name of this city is interesting. Vaasa was originally called Mustasaari (from the Finnish “Black Island”) or Mussor (in honor of the village on the site of which it was founded in 1606). However, the city soon changed its name, unpresentable to the Russian ear, to Wasa, in honor of the Swedish royal family, and was called that for 2.5 centuries: from 1606 to 1855. After the death of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I, who, as we remember, was also the Grand Duke of Finland, the city was renamed in his honor: it became known as Nikolaistadt or Nikolaistadt (Nikolaistad in Swedish or Nikolainkaupunki in Finnish). Although most of the residents and visitors still called him Vaza. The city returned its ancient name after the revolution, in 1918, and again officially became Vasa in Swedish and Vaasa in Finnish.

Vaasa Hotels

There will be no problems with spending the night in Vaasa: there is a wide choice of hotels in the city and its surroundings - from first-class hotels in the center to picturesque campsites on the islands of the archipelago. Particularly popular are cottages and boarding houses, all kinds of bed and breakfasts (mini-hotels where accommodation and breakfast are included in the price) and spa resorts. There is even an excellent campsite on Vaskiluoto Island, equipped for families with children. Its special advantage is that it is just a few minutes' walk from Vaasa's two theme parks.

Shopping

Like any other city in Finland, Vaasa can boast of excellent shops with high-quality and, most importantly, inexpensive household goods. There are plenty of shopping opportunities here: there are three large shopping centers (such as the Rewell Center) in the historical part of the city, a small but colorful market with local products, as well as many designer boutiques and shops with handicrafts and souvenirs.

Entertainment and attractions in Vaasa

The cultural capital of Ostrobothnia boasts a number of worthy museums, whose collections the Finnish capital may envy. The most visited, of course, was and remains the KUNTSI Museum of Contemporary Art with its quirky, sometimes bold, but extremely interesting exhibition. You can enjoy the works of traditional masters of brush and chisel at the Tikanoja Art Museum, where there are paintings by Degas, Gauguin, Mathis, Picasso, as well as Finnish artists. The Museum of Labor, the Museum of War Veterans (Vaasan Sotaveteraanimuseo), the Ostrobothnia Museum, the Maritime Museum, and the Museum of Automobiles and Motors are considered popular.

Pay special attention to the Brahe open-air museum, which displays unique rural houses from the 19th century. The “highlight” of the program is the ancient labyrinth of stones (also known as the “Witch’s Circle”) - one of the most mysterious megalithic structures in the country.

If the weather turns out to be exceptionally good, and you don’t want to waste time in the museum halls, you should just take a walk around the center of Vaasa, fortunately, there is something to see here. The city hall, the Church of the Holy Trinity, the city university and the elegant library building, the barracks and the Vaasa Court of Appeal, finally, the water tower, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the ruins of the Church of St. Mary are just some of its attractions.

Set aside a separate day, or better yet two, for the natural monuments of Vaasa, because it is here that the magnificent Kvarken archipelago is located - the first site in Finland taken under UNESCO protection. Also be sure to take a walk along the specially paved nature trail in Öjberget. The route passes through amazingly picturesque places - along the Oybergsmossen swamp, a giant pit, the so-called “devil's field” and the Söderfjärden meteorite crater, which is all covered with fragrant dwarf pine trees. If you're lucky, you can see the cranes that traditionally fly here to rest (they even erected a special ornithological tower from which scientists monitor the life and habits of these graceful birds).

For families with tourists, we recommend ending each day in the summer amusement park "Vassalandia", and in the winter - in the water park "Tropiclandia", where the little ones will run screaming along the slides, mothers will relax in the spa, and noble fathers of families will steam in the bathhouse and sauna, after Why inhale frosty air from warm open pools?

Kvarken Archipelago

It’s worth mentioning separately about the Kvarken moraine archipelago - after all, these are 5,600 beautiful land areas located in the Gulf of Bothnia. Kvarken is connected to the mainland by Raippaluoto, the longest bridge in Finland. Its unique feature is the annual “rising of the land”, due to which the animal and plant world here is constantly changing. For example, the archipelago is home to 16 endemic species of fauna and flora that are no longer found on the planet. You can learn more about Kvarken's life at the Terranova Nature Center, which is located in the Pohjanmaa Local History Museum, or during a walking tour, cruise or kayaking trip through the archipelago.

Events and holidays

Vaasa's music and cultural festivals are known throughout the country; every year thousands of fans of classical music and choral singing, as well as everyone who follows trends in the world of contemporary art, flock here. One of the most significant events is the Choral Festival, which takes place every year for five days over the Ascension weekend. Following him in popularity are the Jorma Panula Conductor Competitions. This is one of the most significant and prestigious events in Europe for conductors, where they can show off their talents.

But, of course, the main “must visit” event in Vaasa is the famous Korsholm music festival, which has been held since 1983. It is also often called the Night of Chamber Music and Light, which attracts leading Scandinavian and world artists performing in the Baroque style and in a classical chamber style. As you might guess, most of the concerts take place in the evenings, under the spotlight, in amazingly picturesque places - idyllic churches, restaurants, museums and cozy concert halls.

Other interesting events in Vaasa include the Ranta Rock rock festival, the Water Carnival, the Kvarken Strait Sea Days, as well as traditional fish fairs.

Vaasa (Swedish Vasa) is a city in the province of Ostrobothnia, western Finland.

general information

Vaasa was an important government city when it was part of Sweden. It was founded in the 14th century along with the Korsholm fortress near the village of Mustasaari. In 1606, the village of Mustasaari was granted city status, and five years later it was renamed Wasa in honor of the Swedish royal dynasty. The old names are preserved in the municipality of Vaasa: it is called Korsholm in Sweden and Mustasaari in Finland.

The old town of Vaasa completely burned down in 1852, and when it was rebuilt, it was moved six kilometers to the northwest, closer to the sea. At the same time it was renamed Nikolainkaupunkki (Swedish: Nikolaistad) in honor of the Russian Tsar Nicholas I, since it was then a Duchy under Russian rule (1809 - 1917).

Thanks to its new position, Vaasa (or Nikolainkaupunki) became an important port city, and local businessman Carl Gustaf Wolff (1800 - 1868) was the largest shipowner in all of Scandinavia.

When it declared its independence in 1917, the name of Vaasa was returned to the city. The city became the capital of the white movement (conservatives, bourgeois) during the civil war (1918), when it was occupied by the reds (communists, socialists). Since then, this city has been known as the White City, because the support of the “whites” was very strong there.

About 25% of the city's population speaks Swedish, more are bilingual (speaking Finnish and Swedish) - ties with Sweden are still very strong. In the suburbs of Vaasa, the majority of the population speaks Swedish.

Vaasa is fenced off from the open sea by many islands in the archipelago. The local nature can be called unique - it rises from the sea due to glacioisostasis. The Kvarken Archipelago, a UNESCO natural heritage site, is also very close by.

How to get there

By plane

Daily flights from Vaasa to (Finnair, Blue1 and Golden Air/Finncomm Airlines), (Blue1) and 4 times weekly flights to Umeå (airBaltic).

In order to get from the airport to the city or, conversely, from the city to the airport, you can use buses or taxis.

Buses from the airport and from the Central Square. Routes 4, 10 and 40. On weekdays they run hourly, from early morning until late evening. Ticket price is 2.50 €.

Taxi from the airport. The fare ranges from 16 to 25 €. You should order a taxi at least two hours before the arrival or departure of the plane. However, if the plane departs early in the morning or late in the evening, it is better to make a reservation no later than 22:00 by landline phone +358 6 100 411 or mobile number 0600 30011. Website http://www.taksivaasa.fi

By train

Any train from Oulu or via Tampere stops in Seinäjoki. From there you can change trains to Vaasa. There are also trains that go directly to Vaasa via Seinäjoki. Three of these trains go from Vaasa to Jyväskylä via Seinäjoki. Train timetables can be obtained from your local railway company (VR).

By bus

The cities of Oulu and Turku are connected by a bus route that passes through Vaasa. Many buses that pass through Vaasa also stop in Tampere, Pori and Kokkola. Contact Matkahuolto for schedules and other useful information.

By car

Main road 3 (or E12) goes from Tampere to Vaasa (419 km). Coastal Road 8 (or E8) runs from Turku via Rauma and Pori to Vaasa (332 km) and from Vaasa via Kokkola to Oulu (318 km).

By ferry

A barge route called Wasaline departs daily from Vaasa to Holmsund, (near Umeå).

People arriving with their own motorboat or rowing boat can use the services of Wasa Segelförening (one of the oldest boating communities, [email protected]) on the island of Vaskiluoto. They operate the official bay for guests of Vaasa, where the service is excellent. The bay offers a beautiful view of the city, the center of which is only two kilometers away.

Clue:

Vaasa - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Ekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Vaasa - weather by month

Clue:

Vaasa - weather by month

Main attractions. What to see

Market Square and the Finnish Statue of Liberty

The Market Square is the center of city life in Vaasa. The Finnish Statue of Liberty, erected in 1938, is located in the northern part of the square.

Old Vaasa (Vanha Vaasa, Gamla Vasa)

It is located approximately 6 km southeast of the current location of the city. In its place remained the ruins of old Vaasa, which burned down in 1852, and the 18th century courthouse, which survived the fire, but was subsequently reconstructed into Korsholm Church when the city was moved closer to the sea. The walls of the 14th century Korsholm Castle are visible to the west of Korsholm Church.

Söderfjärden

This is a large cultivated area located in the south of Vaasa in the agricultural region of Sundom. When viewed from Öjberget Hill, it looks absolutely round. It looks like this because it is a crater formed as a result of a meteorite impact millions of years ago.

River bank

Take a walk in the park along the shore. You will see many attractions: the neo-Gothic Court of Appeal and the 19th century Vaasa Prison. The prison (modernized from the inside) is still in use today and even has a small shop that sells crafts made by prisoners.

City Library

Find out the latest events in your country from international newspapers, which are located in the library at Kirjastonkatu 13. If you don't find the newspaper you need, try searching on the Internet on one of the computers. All this is free. While here, immerse yourself in history. The first library in Finland that handed out books was built in 1794 in Vaasa. The current city library was built in 1936, and in 2001, thanks to renovation and expansion, the new library included the buildings of both previous libraries.

Modern architecture

If you are interested in architecture, you will find many interesting buildings in Vaasa. Firstly, there is the campus of the University of Vaasa, which was mentioned above, and secondly, the city center, or Rewell Center, which was designed and built by the architect Viljo Revell in 1963. Next to the center of Huutoniemi (sw: Roparnäs) stands the Huutoniemi Church, built in 1964 by the architect Aarno Ruusuvuori. Industrial architecture is well represented in the buildings of Strömberg Park and the city library, which, as already noted, occupies ancient and modern buildings.

Education

Vaasa university campuses. Vaasa is home to three university-level educational institutions that make very effective and efficient use of the remnants of the city's industrial past.

The University of Vaasa owns a unique campus that seamlessly combines modern architecture with what has been preserved from an old cotton mill near Palosaari. All buildings are located along the river and are surrounded by wonderful parks. They say that this is the most beautiful university town in all of Finland.

The so-called "Academill" - a former mill, and now the building of two faculties of the University of Åbo Akademi, is located south of the campus of the University of Vaasa.

The town of the Swedish Academy of Economics and Business Administration, or Hanken, which used to be a garment factory, is located in the northern part of Kauppapuistikko Park.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Trinity Church and surrounding area. In the vicinity of the neo-Gothic Trinity Church, you will find the town hall, which houses a travel agency on the ground floor. On Vaasanpuistikko street, south of the church is the city council building, and next to it is Vaasan Lyseon Lukio, a Finnish high school. To the west of the church is another school with a Lyceum sign - this is Vasa Övningsskolas Gymnasium, a Swedish high school.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

The Kuntsti Museum of Contemporary Art is a new museum that opened in February 2007 in a former warehouse in Vaasa's Inner Harbor.

Ostrobothnian Museum and Nature Research Center Terranova Kvarken. If you are interested in the history of the region, then this is the place for you. While visiting the museum, you can get acquainted with the unique local nature (however, this can be done without the museum, on your own - in the open area of ​​the archipelago).

The Tikanoja Art Museum, address: Hovioikeudenpuistikko 4. Museum of traditional art in the former home of businessman Frithjof Tikanoja (1877-1964). The museum dates back to the day when this man donated his collection to the city. The collection includes works by Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, as well as Finnish masters: Albert Edelfelt, Axel Gallen-Kallela, Maria Viik and Tyko Sallinen. There are also guided tours of the museum.

Vaasa Maritime Museum, address: Palosaaren salmi, Merimuseo. Discover Vaasa's maritime history at this museum, housed in a former warehouse built by famous shipowner K.G. Wolff in the 19th century.

Brage Open Air Museum, address: Hietalahti. The museum consists of a full 19th century farm with many interesting buildings and interiors from the Swedish population of Ostrobothnia. Can be reached on foot from the city center.

Amusement parks

Wasalandia is an amusement park mainly for young children. Located on the island of Vaskiluoto, near the city center.

Tropiclandia is a water park and spa with many slides, saunas and Jacuzzis. In summer, part of the park opens outdoors. Located on the island of Vaskiluoto, near the city center.

What to see in the area

Stundars, address: Stundarsvägen 5, Solf (Finnish: Sulva). A huge open-air museum near the municipality of Korsholm (in Finnish: Mustasaari), consisting of more than 60 buildings. This is the main center of culture and art.

Raippaluodon Silta or Replot Bro, the longest bridge in Finland, can be reached by driving 10 km northwest towards the island of Replot, part of the municipality of Korsholm, which surrounds Vaasa. Just before the bridge there is a wonderful public beach where you can relax for a day or two. You can continue your journey to the islands, where there is something to see.

Kvarken Archipelago (Merenkurkku, Kvarken). The archipelago is a UNESCO natural heritage site. The entire archipelago is remarkable in itself, with UNESCO-protected areas in the municipalities of Korsholm, Korsnas, Malax and Vøro-Maksmo.

Coastal towns of Ostrobothnia. From Vaasa you can easily reach the small towns of Kristinestad (Finnish: Kristiinankaupunki), Kaskinen (Swedish: Kaskö) and Nerpes (Finnish: Närpiö) in the south or Nykarleby (Finnish: Uusikaarlepyu), Jakobstad (in Finnish: Pietarsaari) and Kokkola (Swedish: Karleby) in the north.

Provinssirock is an interesting rock festival in the town of Seinäjoki, about 80 km east of Vaasa. Since most hotels are occupied during the festival, it is better to stay in Vaasa during this time. This is an annual festival that is organized in mid-June.

Pienet Festarit Preerialla is a small two-day festival taking place on the small island of Hietasaari. Usually held in early June, the music here is mainly punk rock and hip hop.

Food. What to try

Budget

Vaasa has many inexpensive cafes where you can eat burgers, kebabs and pizza.

Mid-level

• Rosso, address: Vaasanpuistikko 18 C.
• Amarillo, address: Rewell Center 101 (third floor).
• Reastaurant Chili Lime, address: Kauppapuistikko 16. Vietnamese cuisine.
• Pizzeria Marco Polo, address: Hovioikeudenpuistikko 11. (Oldest independent pizzeria in the city)
• Dallas Pizza Palazzo, address: Västervikintie 1. It is better to get here by car.
• Pizzeria Rax Vaasa, address: Kauppapuistikko 13. Small pizzeria.
• Hupsis Kantarellis, address: Kauppapuistkko 15. A place with unusual food on the verge of “madness”.
• Janne's Saloon, address: Kuusisaari. Located on one of the islands of the archipelago. You can only get here in summer by boat from the inner bay. In winter you can walk directly on the ice, but only if one of the local residents leads you.
• Strampen, address: Rantakatu 6. Located next to the inner bay of Vaasa. "Strampen" is short for "Strandpaviljongen", which means "shore pavilion" in Swedish. There is a terrace where you can drink beer. Open only in summer.
• Faros, address: Kalaranta. "Faros" is the name of the boat in Kalaranta (Fish Bay). There is a terrace on the deck and partly on the ground where you can drink beer and other drinks, and there is a good restaurant on board below deck. Open only in summer.
• Seglis, address: Niemeläntie 14. On the island of Vaskiluoto in the shipowners' club "Wasa Segelförening". There is a terrace with a beautiful view of the city across the bay. Open only in summer.
• Martin Baari, address: Hovioikeudenpuistikko 20. Small bistro for lunch with excellent service. Be sure to try the beer there.
• Kaffehuset August, address: Hovioikeudenpuistikko 13. A popular cafe near the market square, offers an extended list of white wines. Sometimes there is live music here in the evenings.

Expensive

Holidays

Festivals

Night of Art (in August). Once a year, the city hosts various cultural events: free concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, etc. Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself nearby.

Korsholm Music Festival (towards the end of summer). One of the most famous chamber music festivals in Finland. During it, a special mood hovers in the city - because music is heard everywhere: in concert halls, museums, restaurants and churches.

Festival of choral singing (set for Ascension week). International high-quality festival of choral singing.

Vaasa at night (held every dark autumn night). An annual festival attended by most of the city's pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Things to do

Jugendstil water tower 47 m high (built in 1915). There is a crawling wall inside the tower.

Concert halls

If you want to listen to live music in Vaasa every day, these two places are worth remembering:

Doo-Bop Club, address: Kauppapuistikko 12. Jazz club under "McDonald's" in the northern part of the market square. They play mainly jazz, soul and funk. The main principle is that all the music is live.

Ritz (Skafferiet r.f.), address: Kirkkopuistikko 22. Located in a cinema building from the 50s, where features of local and international cultures coexist. Small shows are held in a cozy atmosphere on the new stage (built in the spring of 2013), larger concerts are held in the saloon, where there are more than 320 seats. More than 100 concerts were held here in just two years. Both groups that have traveled all over the world and newcomers perform.

Sports teams

VPS (Vaasan Palloseura) is a football team playing in the Finnish top league. Finland's standards, of course, are not as high as in England, Germany or even Sweden, but nevertheless they are quite interesting. The games take place at the Hietalahti Stadium, which can accommodate 4,600 people.

VIFK (Vasa Idrottföreningen Kamraterna) is another local football team that played in the senior league in the 40s and 50s. In 2011 the team was in 5th place in the second division.

Vaasan Sport is a hockey team that currently plays in the second most important hockey league in the country - Mestis. They play at the Vaasa Arena in Kuparisaari.

Shopping and shops

There are only three shopping centers in Vaasa, two of which are located on the market square. On the west side of the square is the Rewell Center (named after the architect Viljo Revell, who designed and built the city's modern neighborhoods in 1962), and on the east side is a smaller center called the HS center.

On Pitkäkatu street there is a small shopping center "Galleria Wasa". The large supermarket "City Market" is based in the northern part of the market square.

On Kivihaka Street, east of the city center, is a shopping area where you can find many large shops, a small shopping center and two large supermarkets. The best way to get here is by car.

Loftet (address: Raastuvankatu 28) is a local shop with handmade goods, located near the city center. There is also a small cafe where you can have a good lunch.

The Gothic-style covered market (built in 1902) offers meat, fish, cheese, candy and even art and souvenirs. Located in the southern part of the market square.

Bars. Where to go

Oliver's Inn, address: Kauppapuistikko 8. Self-proclaimed "party pub". On weekends it lives up to the name.

O"Malley"s, address: Hovioikeudenpuistikko 21. Recently opened a dance floor. Live music.

El Gringo Music Saloon, address: Hovioikeudenpuistikko 15 (entrance from the alley).

Amarillo Bar & Restaurant, address: Rewell Center 101.

Public Corner, address: Hallinkuja (around the corner from the indoor market).

Office - The Sports Bar, address: Raastuvankatu 15. Previously there was a legendary pub called "Koti".

D.O.M Munkhaus, address: Hietasaarenkatu 14, basement. Entrance from the alley.

Kalarannan Laituri Bar & Terrace, address: Kalaranta. Open only in summer.

Faros, address: Kalaranta. Have a beer on the ship.

Strampen, address: Sisäsatama. A very popular terrace on summer evenings.

Happy Barrel, address: Kauppapuistikko 15. If you ask, they will serve fatty food.

Clubs and nightlife

Fontana, address: Hovioikeudenpuistikko 15. Probably the most popular nightclub in the city and certainly the largest. Located on the third floor of Hartman House in the northern part of the market square. There is a room for private parties.

Leipätehdas - Brödfabriken, address: Hietasaarenkatu 14. Located in a former bread factory. Parties and concerts by local bands often take place here.

Nightclub Sky, address: Rewell Center 101. It offers the best view of the city because the club is on the tenth floor of a building on the west side of Market Square. Hotel "Sokos Hotel Vaakuna" in the same building. The club can be accessed through the Amarillo Bar on the ground floor.

Hullu Pullo, address: Kauppapuistikko 15. This is more of a rock bar than a nightclub, although there is still a dance floor. In winter, concerts are often held here.

Waild, address: Kauppapuistikko 15. A nightclub for a more mature crowd than "Hullu Pullo", which is located next door.

Rocktails, address: Teräksenkuja 3. Cocktail room + nightclub.

How to get around the city

The city is quite compact, and it is quite possible to travel between many locations on foot. Shopping areas, as well as nightlife, are concentrated mainly around the market square.

Local buses to other parts of the city and the municipality usually depart from the southern part of the market square or from the western side of the Rewell Center shopping center. The difference between bus routes is usually one and a half hours. The city transport administration, Vaasan Paikallisliikenne, is located on the second floor of the Rewell Center shopping center. Here you can also find the schedule and graphical diagrams of bus movements.

There are two taxi companies in the central part of Vaasa (Hovioikeudenpuistikko 10 and 23). You can call a taxi anywhere in the city by calling +358 6 100 411 (if you are calling from another country, the number will change to +358 6 3200 111).

Local company called Vaasan Taxivene (tel: +358 500 667 760 or +358 400 594 967, [email protected]) provides river taxi services. This service is more suitable for groups as the fare for one person will be incredibly high (for a group of 9 people the fare will be €140/hour). The same company organizes cruises to the archipelago and jet ski trips.

A similar company, Neptune Service, (tel: +358 50 5812920) offers affordable and fast river taxis around the archipelago for groups of up to 6 people.

Feb 02 2014

Vaasa * Vaasa: an almost Swedish Finnish city

• Published in

02.02.2014

Vaasa... the intertwining of Finland and Sweden on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Here, 450 km from Helsinki, the cultures of two neighbors are reconciled and united into one in a small but cozy city at the narrowest point of the Kvarken Strait. It is here that when you go to McDonald's you can see old Swedish people cheerfully discussing something over a cup of coffee. It is the city of Vaasa that bears the title of the sunniest city in Finland. Well, I’ll try to tell you what exactly you can see here.

Transport, how to get there. I'll start the story with the transport component. The distance from Helsinki is approximately 430 km, the train covers this distance in 4-4.5 hours. There are ten pairs of such trains between Helsinki and Vaasa, three of which are direct; in other cases, you will have to change at Seinäjoki station, since the line to Vaasa is a branch from the main western highway of Finland Helsinki - Oulu. However, this will not cause inconvenience: all trains are coordinated, and the waiting time will hardly be half an hour.

City transport in Vaasa is represented by buses, including those going to the port (more about it below). Tickets for them are single, monthly and serial. There are no daily tickets, like in Helsinki and Turku. However, we won’t need buses other than the one that goes to the port.

In addition to bus and rail transport, Vaasa also has a sea passenger service, represented by the only ferry between Vaasa and Umeå (Sweden). His schedule is non-periodic, so for details I refer you to the website:

Important: if you want to get a seat on the bus connecting Port Umeå - Umea center (which is 20 kilometers away, you can’t get there on foot), you must reserve a seat in advance. Most often there are enough places for everyone, but in high season this may be important. See the above site for details.

Vaasa in parts.

Center. We leave the station, in front of us is the Hovioikeudenpuistikko alley, running right through the city center. We arrive at the Kauppatori market square. In the middle stands a monument to the liberators of the Motherland:

Like many other Finnish cities, this is the very heart of the city. It is from here that you can see different bookstores, eateries and everything you might need. We go further along the alley and come to the shore of Eteläinen Kaupunginselkä. The city court building, Hovioikeus, is located on it, after which the pedestrian alley is named:

Next to it is the Vaasan sisäsatama marina building, which hosts various exhibitions:

We look further to the right and see the old elevator:

We go further north and at some point we find ourselves on Museokatu Street. The name speaks for itself. Indeed, there is at least one interesting museum on it and it’s called Pohjanmaan museo, Museum of the Pohjanmaa region (address Museokatu 3). A very interesting museum telling about the past and present of the Vaasan archipelago. A lot is told about the fauna that inhabits it.

There are, of course, beautiful churches in Vaasa:

Church on Kasarmin tori:

Vaskiluoto. An island to the west of the central part of the city. It has a port from which the ferry to Umeå departs, as well as the Wasalandia water park.

In general, as industrial and often abandoned as its western part looks, the eastern part is just as green and picturesque. If you have free time, I recommend taking a walk.

Geographical encyclopedia

- (Heb. Basha), a man of low birth (1 Kings 16:2), son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar. Possibly, V. was one of the military leaders in the Israeli army. King Navat, against whom he organized a conspiracy. V. killed Navat during the siege of Gavafon and occupied for 24 years... ... Brockhaus Biblical Encyclopedia

- (according to Fuerst, courage, boldness) (1 Kings 15:16) king of Israel. He came from the tribe of Issachar and was of humble birth (1 Kings 15:27, 1 Kings 16:2). Having conspired against Nebat, the son of Jeroboam, Baasha treacherously killed him during the siege of Gibethon...

Vaasa- Vasa, city, adm. c. Läni Vaasa, Finland. It was founded in 1606 by the Swede, King Charles IX, who belonged to the Vasa dynasty, which determined its name Vasa. Since 1809 it was part of Russia. In 1852 the city was burned by fire; with new construction... Toponymic dictionary

Vaasa- Basha Baasha, military commander of the Israeli king Nebat. He killed Nebat during the siege of Gibeon of the Philistines and reigned in his place. Reigned for about 24 years from 953 930 BC. and destroyed the house of Jeroboam (cf. 1 Kings 14:7-14). He spent his life in lawlessness... Dictionary of Biblical Names

King of Israel, reigned from 952 to 930. BC He was a usurper who achieved the throne through a conspiracy against King Nabat, whom he killed, exterminating his entire family, and founded a new dynasty (1 Kings, xv, 27, 28). According to the custom of others... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Bible. Old and New Testaments. Synodal translation. Biblical encyclopedia arch. Nikifor.

Vaasa- Va'asa (1 Kings 15:16,17,19,21,22,27,28,32,33; 1 Kings 16:1,3 8,11 13; 1 Kings 21:22; 2 Kings 9:9 ; 2 Chronicles 16:1,3,5,6; Jer.41:9) son (descendant) of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar, king of Israel, who defeated the entire house of Jeroboam and ruled in Samaria for 24 years. But he… … Complete and detailed Bible Dictionary to the Russian Canonical Bible

Vaasa- A man from the tribe of Issachar. Seized the throne of Israel from King Nebat (Nadab), son of Jeroboam, and reigned from approximately 909 to 886 BC. 1 Kings 15:16 16:7 ... Detailed Dictionary of Biblical Names

Vaasa- killed Nebat and became king of Israel: 1 Kings 15:27,28 killed the entire house of Jeroboam: 1 Kings 15:29,30 fought against Asa of Judah: 1 Kings 15:16–22,32 wicked reign for twenty-four years: 1 Kings 15:33 ,34 Jehu prophesied against him: 1 Kings 16:1 ... Bible: Topical Dictionary