Lieto: Vanhalinna, Nautelankoski and Nature Trails

Vanhalinna, Nautelankoski and Parmaharju offer different perspectives on Lieto: cultural history, river scenery and trails through natural areas. The Church of St. Peter of Lieto also provides a distinctive architectural landmark.

Vanhalinna: museum, history and trails

Vanhalinna is home to a professionally managed museum with permanent and temporary exhibitions. The site lies along the historic routes of the Aurajoki River and Hämeen Härkätie. Artifacts from the Iron Age have been found on the castle hill; from there, the Vanhalinna trails offer sweeping views of the nationally significant cultural landscape of the Aurajoki Valley.

The trail network passes through the manor grounds, along the riverbank, through the forest and up to a historic castle hill. Trail lengths can help you choose: the Archaeology Trail is 0.8 kilometres long, the History Trail is 2 kilometres and the Friendship Trail is 1.5 kilometres. The network also includes a 1-kilometre return trail. This makes it easy to distinguish the trails by theme and stated length, while still taking in the scenic stops along the way.

Vanhalinna also offers the “Kultaisen joutsenen tapaus” escape game. Check availability before your visit. There is plenty of free parking in the area.

Nautelankoski: museum and river scenery

The Nautelankoski museum grounds include the Lauri Nautela Museum, a miller's cottage, a watermill, a sauna and a granary. The Lauri Nautela Museum features a permanent exhibition about Stone Age hunters and a diorama of the Aurajoki River; it also has a café and a museum shop. The miller's cottage has its own history: the relocated semi-detached house was converted into a miller's cottage and originally came from Jonkari Farm in the village of Hakula. The museum grounds also contain the archaeological remains of Kukkarkoski, which are part of Finland's nationally significant cultural heritage.

Nautelankoski is the largest rapids on the Aurajoki River. The total drop is 17 metres, and the rapids area stretches for about 800 metres from the weir to the pool by the birdwatching tower. Nautelankoski and its banks are protected as a nature reserve and are part of the Natura programme. Habitats there include diverse riverside forests, small rocky outcrops and meadows. Some of these areas are maintained by mowing.

The nature reserve trails start in the Nautelankoski museum courtyard. Free parking is available there; as availability may change, check before travelling. Only licensed fly fishing is permitted in the rapids area. Rules may change, so check the current permit requirements on site.

Parmaharju and Hämeen Härkätie

Two nature trails, 6 and 9 kilometres long, start in Parmaharju, along with a short 1.6-kilometre loop. Trail markings are also important when choosing a route: the trails are only partially marked on the ground. If using a map, you need experience and good navigational skills.

Hämeen Härkätie offers another perspective on the trails in Lieto. Much of the route in Lieto follows paths for light traffic or quiet roads. A 33-kilometre section of the approximately 160-kilometre Hämeen Härkätie cycling route also passes through the municipality of Lieto. These figures refer to the municipality; they do not describe the town of Lieto alone.

The Church of St. Peter of Lieto

The Church of St. Peter of Lieto is the parish's main church and stands in the centre of Lieto. According to the latest research, it was built around the year 1500. Its plain granite architecture makes it one of the simplest granite churches in the Finnish region of Varsinais-Suomi. The church thus adds its own architectural and historical dimension to the archaeological and museum themes of Vanhalinna and Nautelankoski.

Discover more destinations: Somerniemi, Kaarina, Kustavi, Sauvo, Härkälä, Korppoo, Koski, Dragsfjärd

For the regional travel overview: Varsinais-Suomi.