Saltvik

Introducing Saltvik

Was the legendary 10th-century Viking capital, Birka, situated in Saltvik? Though there's no evidence - and stronger proof exists that the Viking stronghold was near the Swedish Lake Mälaren - one Ålandese archaeologist is convinced of Saltvik's former glory.

Whatever the case, many signs of Viking occupation have been unearthed around Saltvik, more so than elsewhere on the Åland archipelago. Nevertheless, a giant leap of the imagination will be required to reconstruct longhouses from the scant ruins.

East of Kvarnbo, the central village of Saltvik, is the Iron Age fortress of Borgboda. On the main Saltvik bicycle route, it is thought to have been built in the mid-to-late first millennium AD. Some stone outcroppings remain, but otherwise it's just a cow field with a nice view.

Kvarnbo has the large Sankta Maria Church that dates from the 12th century and is probably the oldest church in Finland. There are some wall paintings and sculptures from the 13th century, as well as a fine baptismal font, but most of the paintings are from the Lutheran era, in the 1500s.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009