Discover Rymättylä

Rymättylä combines a medieval stone church and the local history of herring processing with island transport and the Small Archipelago Ring Road. This offers different points of focus for planning your trip: you may be interested in architectural history, herring processing or the route of the ring road through Rymättylä.

Getting there and finding your way

The Small Archipelago Ring Road runs from Naantali through Rymättylä. A ferry also operates between Airismaa and Aasla in Rymättylä. If a ferry crossing is part of your plans, check the current timetable in advance. There is an observation tower on Karhuvuori. The route, ferry connection and viewpoint are different reference points for planning your trip.

The church and local history

The stone Rymättylä Church of St. James (Rymättylän Pyhän Jaakobin kirkko) was built around the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries; its vaulting was completed in the late 15th century. The sacristy is generally dated to the 14th century. The construction period, completion of the vaulting and dating of the sacristy are therefore separate clues to the church’s history.

The Rymättylä Church of St. James (Rymättylän Pyhän Jaakobin kirkko) has step-free access, but the altar is not accessible by wheelchair. There is parking for about 60 cars by the church and cemetery. Near the village centre of Rymättylä, the Rymättylä Museum (Rymättylän museo) is located in the former main building of the Maskulainen House. Here, the history of the church building meets another part of local history.

Herring fishing and processing

At the Silliperinnemuseo Dikseli in Röölä, the history of herring fishing and Rymättylä’s herring-processing tradition are presented. Opened in 2010, the museum introduces visitors to the entire processing process, from catching the fish to salting it. This focuses on a different subject from the medieval church: local fishing and herring processing. If you want to explore Rymättylä’s history, these two subjects offer different areas of focus.

Individual and group visits

Herrankukkaro is located on Airismaa in Rymättylä and operates year-round as a conference and leisure centre for groups and businesses. Individual visitors can visit the facility on selected days as part of events and retreats. These dates depend on the operator’s current calendar, so check it if you are planning an individual visit. Year-round operations and the selected visiting days for individuals describe different conditions.

The wider travel destination of Varsinais-Suomi

Beyond Rymättylä, the wider travel destination of Varsinais-Suomi is characterised by the flat, labyrinthine sea areas, rocky skerries, wooded islands and open waters of the Archipelago Sea region. Architecture and museums are also part of this regional context: the Paimio Sanatorium was designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto, built in 1933 and set in a pine forest as a functionalist architectural complex. The Luostarinmäki Museum Quarter offers themed guided tours about the history of the district. Turku Castle has stood by the Aura River since the 1280s; during the time of Duke Juhana, it became a setting for court life. These regional examples complement Rymättylä’s local themes with landscapes, architecture and urban history.

Discover more destinations: Nagu, Kimitoön, Somerniemi, Salo, Lieto, Masku, Taivassalo, Somero.

Go to the wider travel overview: Varsinais-Suomi.