Altstadt von Rauma

Rauma (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈrɑumɑ], Swedish: Raumo) is a town and municipality of ca. 39,900 (28 February 2013) inhabitants on the west coast of Finland, 92 kilometres (57 mi) north of Turku , and 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Pori . Granted town privileges on May 17, 1442 (then under the rule of Sweden), Rauma is known for its high quality lace  (since the 18th century) and the old wooden architecture of its centre (Old Rauma , Vanha Rauma), which is a Unesco world heritage site.

History

In the 14th century, before being declared as a town, Rauma had a Franciscan monastery and a Catholic church. In 1550, the townsmen of Rauma were ordered to relocate  to Helsinki , but this was successfully countered and Rauma could continue its growth.

Practically the whole wooden town of Rauma was devastated in the fires of 1640 and 1682. The wooden city centre, which is how large the town was until 1809, has approximately 600 wooden buildings. The neo-renaissance style of many of the houses is a result of prosperity brought on by seafaring. In 1897 Rauma had the largest fleet of sailing boats in Finland, totalling 57 vessels. Goods were mainly exported to Germany, Stockholm  and the Baltic states . In the 1890s, Rauma got a teacher's college (a 'seminar'), which was later annexed to the University of Turku. A part of the department of education still exists in Rauma.

The name Rauma comes from the Germanic word strauma, meaning "stream".

Tourist information open:

Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9am to 4pm

Tuesdays, 9am to 5pm, Fridays 9am to 3pm