Kristinestad

Finland

Kristinestad (Finnish: Kristiinankaupunki) is in Ostrobothnia in Western Finland. Like many other towns in coastal Ostrobothnia, Kristinestad is bilingual with a Swedish speaking majority. The town has profiled itself as a small town where old and new meets in an unique way and it's motto is "Det Goda Livet" lit. The Good Life. Kristinestad was accepted as a Cittaslow town in 2011.

Kattpiskargränden The old town is a lovely preserved grid of wooden houses on a mountain slope on a river bank. There is also a beautiful stone church with separate wooden tower. There's also a little, narrow alley called Kattpiskargränden/Kissanpiiskaajankuja (Cat spanker's alley), which is among the most photographed street signs in Finland.

Ulrika Eleonora church. Free.

Stroll around town. Maybe visit a couple of galleries, a church and the library.