Kronoby: Nature Trail, Museums and Local History

Kronoby offers visitors several points of interest: a nature trail in the town centre, sports facilities and collections on regional and Finnish history. When planning your stay, you can choose the themes that interest you most—from nature watching to vehicles and historic architecture.

Kärleksstigen: Nature and Local History

The Kärleksstigen nature trail is in the centre of Kronoby and is about one kilometre long. Along the trail, signs tell children about animals and nature, with small activities to complement the information. A notable landmark is Lake Skalasträsket, which, despite being located right in the middle of the village, remains entirely in its natural state. Swans and red-necked grebes have been observed nesting at the lake.

The trail is also connected to cultural history: Kärleksstigen has historical significance for the cultural environment of Torgare vicarage. The vicarage has been considered a cultural centre of Kronoby for centuries. The nature trail and the vicarage can thus be seen as two aspects of a local landscape where nature and local history meet.

Trail waypoints and exercise

Kärleksstigen starts at Torgare vicarage, Torgarevägen 22, 68500 Kronoby, and ends at Motionstrappan, Söderpårasvägen 123, 68500 Kronoby. These two addresses give you fixed reference points for planning your route. You can combine the trail with several rounds on Motionstrappan, an exercise staircase. This lets you pair the nature trail with the stair exercise available there.

Another option for exercise is the Kronoby sports hall. The hall measures 782 m² and can be divided into three sections. Volleyball, floorball, basketball, badminton, tennis, gymnastics, football and handball can be played there. The facilities also include an eight-metre-high climbing wall. The range of sports and the divisible hall space give you a clear idea of the activities the hall is designed for.

Vehicles and collections

The Saab Museum in Kronoby is a unique private collection on Finnish automotive history, with hundreds of Saab cars on display. The Bjarne Holmlund Tractor Museum in Kronoby offers a different perspective on vehicles. It houses more than 40 tractors, which Holmlund restored himself. Visitors interested in automotive history can therefore explore both a collection devoted to a single make and restored agricultural machinery as a subject in its own right.

Cultural sites nearby

Near Kronoby is Tolvmansgården, an 18th-century farm with an unusual architectural style. It serves as the local history museum for the Kronoby district. The Gammaldags Market, featuring local vendors, is held there every year on the first Saturday in August. Köttsoppa, a meat soup, is considered its main attraction. The market brings together the historic farm, regional vendors and a specifically named dish.

On Jouxholmen, a visitor area with an exhibition building is located at Cronoholmens Skeppsvarv. It describes the history of the area and the work of the shipwrights who worked for the Crown in Kronoby and Karlskrona. The old cemetery is preserved on the grounds of the former Korpholmen hospital. In 2006–2007, a church modelled on the old church and a bell tower were rebuilt there. An exhibition hut contains maps and a miniature model of the site.

Påras Chapel is also nearby. It is open to visitors seasonally, from Walpurgis Night to All Saints’ Day; guided tours are available by arrangement. If you are planning a guided tour, book it in advance and check that the seasonal opening period matches your visit.

Discover more destinations: Kauhajoki, Yli-Ii, Siikajoki, Norinkylä, Pyhäjoki, Lemmenjoki, Ii, Savio

For the broader travel overview: Northern Ostrobothnia.