Vaasa, Finland

Modern Art Museum, Vaasa
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kuntsi_modern_art_museum_Vaasa_Finland.jpg
Author: Kotivalo
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Vaasa (Swedish: Vasa) is a city on the west coast of Finland. Covering 397.44 sq km (153.5 sq mi), it has a population of 60,000 (2011 estimate). The city is the regional capital of Obtrobothnia.

Vaasa was founded by King Charles IX of Sweden in 1606, when Finland was part of Sweden. It was named after the Swedish royal House of Vasa. Before it was established, the area was already known as Mustasaari (or Korsholm in Swedish). Today the name Mustasaari and Korsholm are still use to denote the rural municipality around Vaasa.

Vaasa has also taken on other names through its long history. It was originally spelled Wasa from 1606 to 1855. Then from 1855 to 1917 it was known as Nikolaiankaupunki (Swedish: Nikolaistad), in honor of Russian Czar Nikolai I. It only change to its present name Vaasa (Swedish Vasa) in 1917.

Lutheran Trinity Church in Vaasa
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vaasa_Church_from_water_tower.jpg
Author: Roland Struwe
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Few major cities in Finland escaped fire in its history. For Vaasa, it was burned down in 1852. Out of the 379 buildings in the city, only 24 survived, among them the Falander-Wasastjerna patrician house, which is today the Old Vaasa Museum. Another building that withstood the blaza was the old Court of Appeals built in 1775. Today it houses the Church of Korsholm.

Visiting Vaasa

You can fly direct from Helsinki to Vaasa on Finnair, Blue1 and Finncomm Airlines. To go to Vaasa by train, you first need to travel to Seinäjoki, which gets train services from Helsinki, Tampere, and other towns. Then take the train from Seinäjoki to Vaasa.

Sights & Attractions in Vaasa

Old Vaasa
The original neighborhood, today located on the southeast part of the new town. It has ruins of the buildings that were destroyed by the 1852 fire as well as buildings that survived, such as the Court of Appeals, not the Church of Korsholm.
Vaasa Market Square
This is the main square in the heart of Vaasa. It is surrounded by the main sights of the city, including the Market Hall and the Statue of Freedom.
Vaasa Waterfront
A park area for leisure walks, with view of the Court of Appeals and the 19th century Vaasa Prison.

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