Jomala: Stone Church, Stone Age and Hiking on the Jomalaleden

In Jomala, different periods of history come together: St Olof’s Church takes you back to the 1280s, while Jettböle is a Stone Age settlement site. The Jomalaleden offers a different perspective on the area, with flexible stages, a nature reserve and historic sights. These themes may help you decide which holiday rental to choose: would you prefer to focus on culture and archaeology, or is hiking your main priority?

St Olof’s Church: one of the oldest stone churches

St Olof’s Church in Jomala is considered one of the oldest surviving stone churches in Åland and Finland as a whole. Dendrochronological analysis of the tower and AMS-14C analysis of the mortar both date the church to the 1280s. Two different materials thus help establish the building’s age—an accessible starting point for anyone interested in the area’s history.

The church is primarily used for services and other church ceremonies, and concerts are also held there. If you are planning a specific visit or concert, check the latest access information and dates in advance. This will help you take the church’s use and possible concert visits into account when planning, without assuming that an event will take place on a particular date.

The Jomalaleden: stages, nature and military history

The Jomalaleden can be divided into shorter or longer stages and walked in different directions. Historic sights along the way include Kungsö Coastal Battery Hill. There is a 3–6 km hiking trail there, along with the remains of a Russian military battery built between 1916 and 1918. The option of varying the stages describes the Jomalaleden; the 3–6 km distance refers to the trail at Kungsö. These offer different points of reference for planning: you can choose the type of stage you prefer for the route, and use the specifically stated trail length when visiting Kungsö.

The Jomalaleden also passes through the Ramsholmen nature reserve. The nature area and the remains of military history bring different emphases to the range of themes explored along the trail. If you would like to include historic stops as well as choose how to structure your hiking day, Kungsö offers a specific point of interest, while Ramsholmen is part of the route through a nature reserve.

Jettböle and the Stone Age

Jettböle adds a much earlier period to these historical themes: the Stone Age settlement site is in Jomala and is one of Finland’s most significant sites for Scandinavian Pit-Comb Ware. This gives you a clear contrast when choosing excursions: Jettböle is a Stone Age archaeological site, while St Olof’s Church is a stone church dating back to the 1280s. Both places offer different perspectives on Jomala’s history, without presupposing the same kind of interest in the past.

More culture and food experiences in Åland’s countryside

Other places add to the cultural offerings in the wider destination of Åland’s countryside. 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. These places each have their own focus, from interpreting history to fortress construction and an open-air museum.

Food discoveries are also part of Åland’s countryside. The area has 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, so check in advance which offerings you would like to include in your travel plans.

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

Return to the main travel overview: Åland’s countryside.