Jomala – Churches, Archaeology and Hiking Trails

When planning a trip to Jomala, you can choose between ecclesiastical architectural history, archaeological themes and a hiking route as different focal points. St. Olof’s Church, the Stone Age settlement site of Jettböle and the Jomalaleden trail each offer a distinct point of reference. If you are looking for hotels in Jomala, this distinction can help you tailor your stay to your interests. It is also worth exploring selected cultural and culinary experiences in the wider destination of Ålands landsbygd.

St. Olof’s Church: Architectural History and Use

St. Olof’s Church in Jomala is considered one of the oldest surviving stone churches in Åland and all of Finland. Its dating is based on two different analyses: a dendrochronological analysis of the tower and an AMS-14C analysis of the mortar both date the church to the 1280s. This gives the church-history theme a precise historical context and makes the church a clearly defined focal point for travellers interested in early sacred architecture.

The church is used primarily for services and other religious ceremonies, as well as concerts. If music is part of your travel plans, check specific concert dates in advance.

Jomalaleden: Stages, History and Scenery

The Jomalaleden can be divided into shorter or longer stages and walked in different directions. This gives you flexibility to plan a hike around the time you have available and your personal interests. Historical sights along the Jomalaleden include Kungsö Coastal Battery Hill, with a 3–6 km hiking trail and the remains of a Russian military battery built between 1916 and 1918. The flexible stages of the Jomalaleden therefore offer a different planning framework from the specifically designated 3–6 km route at Kungsö: you can choose a section according to your preferred distance while also taking a historical theme into account.

The Jomalaleden also passes through the Ramsholmen nature reserve. Natural scenery and historical sights thus provide different points of interest along the same route. When planning your hike, you can take the stage options, Ramsholmen and the historical points along the way into account.

Jettböle and Different Historical Periods

Jettböle offers a much earlier historical focus. The Stone Age settlement site is located in Jomala and is one of Finland’s most significant sites for Scandinavian Pitted Ware pottery. In chronological terms, Jettböle represents the Stone Age, St. Olof’s Church the 1280s, and the military battery along the Jomalaleden the period from 1916 to 1918. This makes it possible to place archaeological, ecclesiastical and military-historical interests in different periods when considering which themes you want your trip to focus on.

Regional Context: Ålands landsbygd

The wider destination of Ålands landsbygd has other historical points of interest: Kastelholm Castle was built as a defensive fortress at the end of the 14th century, and Jan Karlsgården is an open-air museum in the Kastelholm area. The Bomarsund visitor centre presents the history of the area through sound and images. These examples offer additional points of interest alongside Jomala’s own ecclesiastical and archaeological history.

Ålands landsbygd also has its own culinary highlights. There are several authentic small-scale producers in the area. When the respective experiences are available, visitors can stroll through extensive apple orchards to buy the famous apple juice, or visit a caramel workshop and sample handmade sweets. The availability of individual producers’ offerings may vary, so check in advance whether the experience you want is available during your trip.

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

Return to the destination overview: Ålands landsbygd.