Velkua

Understand

Velkua consists of a few larger islands (Palva, Velkuanmaa, Teersalo, Salavainen ja Kettumaa) and some 300 smaller ones. Nine islands have year-round inhabitants. The island Livonsaari, with bridge connection to the mainland, is shared with Askainen (but nowadays belong to Naantali in its entirety). Teersalo, the biggest village beside the parish village and the one with most services, is at the southern tip of this island.

History Velkua got its own church and became a chapel of the Taivassalo parish in 1793. The wooden church still stands. As the profane administration was separated from the parishes. Velkua become a municipality in 1863. It was consolidated with Naantali in 2009, together with Merimasku and Rymättylä. It had long been the smallest Finnish-speaking municipality of Finland, with only nearby Iniö and a few municipalities on Åland being smaller. At the merger, the population was 264. In contrast, there are 1,700 people with summer cottages on the islands.

See

1 Velkua Church (Pyhän Henrikin kirkko), Palvan kirkkotie 21. at events and by agreement. Wooden church from 1793. Accessible by wheelchair. Guided tours by agreement with Visit Naantali (☏ +358 2 435-9800, [email protected]). (updated Jun 2021) 2 Haukka Farm (Haukan tila) (Salavainen: m/s Kaita from Teersalo, to Vähämaa (Rauhala/Salavainen), then 1.5 km by road), ☏ +358 2 252-5730, [email protected]. Farm and museum, with production of beef and eternelles (dried flowers). In old days fishing and small scale seafaring, later fishing, agriculture and forestry. Standard guided tours 1½–2 hr, other options for a visit possible, such as a 1.5 km nature trail in demanding terrain. Call in advance. Standard tour €12/person.

Do

Ilkka Puonti, ☏ +358 50-3016-370. Guided tours: the archipelago, nature trails, the church. Teersalo beach, Sauniementie 5.

Buy

1 Livonsaaren Osuuskauppa, Velkuantie 988, ☏ +358 400-460-600, [email protected]. M–Sa 10:00–18:00; lunch M–Sa 11:00–14:00. Groceries. Simple café. Post automat.

Eat

Old Smuggler (Wanha salakuljettaja) (Teersalo, by the guest marina). Pizza, burgers and salads. Children welcome. Pizza €17, salad €18, burger €20, snacks €10–20; children €7. Rantaklubi (Teersalo harbour), ☏ +358 2 252-5927. Shop Tu–Sa 10:00–17:00, bar Tu–Th 10:00–17:00, F–Sa 10:00–18:00; M Su closed. Restaurant and small general store ("nearly anything" by request). Also fuel. Sausage with pommes €10, salad or burger €15, other dishes €20–30.

Drink & nightlife

1 Café Laituri, Voiponlahdentie 37 (Palva, 1.4 km south-west from the church by road; by boat: reachable from east and west, there is a rock below the surface, marked by floats, near the visible one), ☏ +358 44-337-9913. Daily 11:00–19:00 and by agreement. Café. Guest jetty (depth 1.5 m).

Sleep

1 Livonsaari Caravan, Pohjanpääntie 250 (Askainen, north part of Livonsaari), ☏ +358 40-500-4401. 10:00–21:00. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Caravan and tent site (tents allowed also by the caravans, with electricity), cottages (June–September). Caravan/tent €17+€4/person (over 1 years), electricity +€5/7; cottage €50–60, linen +€10/set; sauna €5/person or €17/hr; rowing boat €8/hr; laundry €4/machine, drying machine +€5. 2 Pursihuvilat (Raissiluoto: ferry connection m/s Kaita from Teersalo, to Vähämaa (Rauhala/Salavainen), then 5 km by road over Vähämaa and Salavainen to Raissiluoto, and a bit farther along the road), ☏ +358 50-529-4118 (Susanna), [email protected]. Large cottages (8+2 persons). Dish washer, laundry machine, Wi-Fi, water toilet. private sauna. On-site water potgable, but not tasty: bring your own. Small outboard boat included (fuel charged). Pets allowed in one of the two cottages. Natur trail through Kairanmetsä on Salavainen (3 km). €270–350/day, weekend (F–Su) €350–430, week €750–1000; linen €10/13 per set, cleaning €100. Teersalo marina (Teersalo, by Smugglers'), ☏ +358 2 252-5888, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Toilet, shower, sauna, kitchen. Laundry and dish washing facilities. Shop and fuel nearby. Event area nearby: handly if you are participating, avoid Saturdays otherwise. Cottages (linen included, shared facilities; no pets). Harbour fee €23; cottage €60+; sauna €28/hr. 3 Vaihela, Velkuanmaantie 168 (in the Vaihela village by the east shore of Velkuanmaa), ☏ +358 40-737-7240 (bookings), +358 44-737-7623 (restaurant), [email protected]. Specialises in family holidays on one hand (no family rooms though), and conferences and training events on the other. The hotel rooms have en suite bathrooms and balcony or door to the patio. Plentiful breakfast. Marina visits include water, electricity, showers and toilets, barbecue, and morning self-service sauna, breakfast can be ordered before 21:00.