Things to do in Sund
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Kastelholms Slott
One of Åland's premier sights, Kastelholms Slott is a smallish but perfectly formed castle picturesquely set by a little inlet. It has experienced several building phases, the earliest of which was in the 14th century. The most impressive part is the keep, which towers 15m high in parts; the walls are 3m thick; there was no escape for Eric XIV, a Swedish king imprisoned here for a time.
The hall, a later construction, ended up being used as a grain storehouse and has an exhibition of items found by archaeologists. Entry is by regular guided tour; while English tours are rare (14:00 Saturday and Sunday from late June to early August), there are plenty of information panel…
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Bomarsund
East of Kastelholm are the ruins of the Russian fortress at Bomarsund. After the war of 1809, Russian troops began to build Bomarsund as a defence against the Swedes. Construction took decades, and the mammoth building was operational but not wholly complete by the time the Crimean War (1854) came around. Twenty-five British and French ships bombarded it heavily from the sea; after two days it capitulated and was demolished by the victors. The evocative honeycomb ruins can be seen on both sides of the main road at the eastern end of Sund, by the bridge leading across a beautiful sound to Prästö island.
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Kastelholms Slott
One of Åland’s premier sights, Kastelholms Slott is a breathtaking castle picturesquely set alongside a little inlet. Construction began in the 14th century but several extensions have been made since, most notably by Gustav Wasa before he became king of Sweden. The keep towers are 15m high in parts with walls 3m thick and you can see how this castle would once have ruled over all of Åland.
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Jan Karlsgårdens Friluftsmuseum
Jan Karlsgårdens Friluftsmuseum is a delightful open-air museum. Stroll around examining a variety of traditional Åland buildings, including windmills and a smoke sauna. It's worth purchasing the guidebook from the Vita Björn museum before entering. Central to all is a Midsummer pole; this is a great place to be when it's erected at the Midsummer festival.
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Alandia Escargots
Near Kastelholm is Alandia Escargots, which runs a snail safari. This one-hour tour scampers around the snail farm looking at how the gastropods are carefully raised and fattened until they’re gourmet. You’ll get to taste one of the little critters done in garlic butter, but for the squeamish it’s best washed down by a glass of strong cider.
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Sankt Johannes Kyrka
North of Kastelholm, Sankt Johannes Kyrka is the biggest church in Åland. It is 800 years old and was twice destroyed by fire. The altarpiece is decorated with a dazzling triptych and a stone cross with the text ‘Wenni E’. According to researchers, it was erected in memory of the Hamburg bishop Wenni, who died here while on a crusade in 936.
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Fängelsemuseet Vita Björn
By the entrance to the Jan Karlsgården Museum is Fängelsemuseet Vita Björn, a small prison museum. The building was a jail until 1975 and demonstrates how cells and conditions evolved over the two centuries it was in use. Although it looks like a cottage, the walls and floor are of thick stone, so there was no tunnelling out.
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Fängelsemuseet Vita Björn
Fängelsemuseet Vita Björn is a small prison museum. The building was used as a jail until 1975, and there's a demonstration of how cell conditions evolved over the two centuries it was in use. Although it looks like a cottage, the walls and floor are of thick stone, so there was no tunnelling out.
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Sankt Johannes Church
North of Kastelholm, Sankt Johannes Church is the biggest church on Åland. It is 800 years old and is decorated with beautiful paintings. Note the stone cross with the text 'Wenni E'. According to researchers, it was erected in memory of the Hamburg bishop Wenni, who died here when on a crusade in 936.
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Alandia Escargots
Also near Kastelholm is Åland's oddest tourist attraction, the Snail Safari run by Alandia Escargots. The snail farm opens only for the one-hour tours; it's worth paying the extra to taste one of the little critters in garlic butter, washed down by a glass of strong cider.
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Jan Karlsgårdens Friluftsmuseum
Handily located next to the Kastelholms Slott castle, Jan Karlsgårdens Friluftsmuseum is a sprawling open-air museum. You can stroll around traditional Ålandic buildings, including windmills and a smoke sauna.
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restaurant
The restaurant at the Jan Karlsgården Museum serves light snacks and delicious meals. It serves surprisingly classy fare for a museum restaurant, so it makes a great lunch stop.
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Graveyards
There are several Graveyards - Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim and Christian - clearly marked on the island of Prästö. All date back to the Russian occupation.
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Bomarsund Museum
The small Bomarsund museum has information and displays bits and pieces excavated from the site of the ruined Russian fortress Bomarsund.
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Bomarsund Museum
On the other side of the water the small Bomarsund Museum has more information and displays bits and pieces excavated from the site of the fortress ruins.
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Golf Course
Åland's original Golf Course, boasting 36 holes, is across the bay from Kastelholm. The Slottsbanan course is harder than the Kungsbanan.
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