Lemland: Churches, Seafaring and History

Lemland offers a clear historical focus when choosing a destination: Lemland Church tells the story of building phases dating back to the Middle Ages, Skeppargården Pellas of a 19th-century shipowner, and the islets of Rödhamn of seafaring. If you are looking for a hotel in Lemland, these local themes can help you get a sense of the destination. The wider destination of Ålands landsbygd offers additional cultural, landscape and culinary themes.

Culture and history in Lemland

Lemland Church is dedicated to Saint Bridget and was probably built around 1275. The tower, sacristy and porch were added later in the Middle Ages; the current choir was built in 1679. Its building history is therefore made up of several layers from different periods: the presumed early foundation was followed by medieval additions and, finally, the 17th-century choir. For travellers interested in historic churches, this sequence makes the different building phases particularly easy to follow.

Skeppargården Pellas was built in 1884 by shipowner Erik Petter Eriksson. The building offers a different historical and thematic focus from the church: its year of construction and the name of its shipowner connect it with a specific person and the history of seafaring. Together, the church and Pellas offer two distinct ways of exploring Lemland’s past—through the development of a church building and through a building from the late 19th century.

The four islets belonging to Rödhamn also have a maritime history: from the Middle Ages onwards, they provided seafarers with shelter from storms on the Ålands hav. The focus here is not the building history of a structure, but the former role of the four islets in protecting seafarers. This complements the church and architectural themes with a tangible story of seafaring.

More to explore in the wider destination of Ålands landsbygd

Other sites and buildings in the wider destination of Ålands landsbygd offer their own historical perspectives. At the Bomarsund Visitor Centre, the area’s history is presented through sound and images. Kastelholm Castle was built as a defensive fortress at the end of the 14th century. Jan Karlsgården is an open-air museum in the Kastelholm area, while Jomala Church is one of Finland’s oldest stone churches.

Prästö is home to cemeteries belonging to Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Lutheran, Catholic and Jewish communities. They are connected with the period when Bomarsund Fortress was built. The Prästö hiking trail passes the Russian telegraph station and its accommodation, Doniken; both are among the few surviving Russian buildings in Åland. Together, these examples show how varied the historical themes are in the wider destination of Ålands landsbygd.

For a different view of the landscape, visit the observation tower on Getabergen in Geta. On a clear day, you can see a long way from there. Culinary experiences are also part of the regional offering: Ålands landsbygd is home to several authentic small-scale producers. Visitors can stroll among extensive apple orchards to buy the famous apple juice, or visit a caramel workshop and try handmade sweets. The availability of individual producers may vary.

This can help you decide whether Lemland’s historical and maritime highlights suit your trip, and which additional regional themes interest you.

Discover more destinations: Lumparland, Eckerö, Jomala, Hammarland, Finström, Saltvik, Geta

Return to the main travel overview: Ålands landsbygd.