Pargas

Pargas (Finnish: Parainen) is a town and municipality in Finland Proper, the centre of which is the only real (although small) town in the Archipelago Sea, which to a large part belongs to the municipality.

The town has a tradition of regarding itself the capital of (the south-west part of) the archipelago. There is a wooden old town, a giant limestone quarry by the centre (origin of Nordkalk Corporation and its siblings), industry and rural country-side. Much of the central and most of the outer archipelago and thus most of the Archipelago Sea National Park belongs to Pargas. Pargas consists of the former municipalities Pargas, Nagu, Korpo, Houtskär and Iniö.

Pargas is in a traditionally Swedish speaking area. Because of the industry (later: proximity to Turku) there are nearly as many Finnish speaking in the town, though. The municipality is officially bilingual and you get service in both languages nearly everywhere.

As in the rest of Finland you get along in English with most people.

• Pargas tourist information, Strandvägen 28, +358 400-117-123. M–W 09:00–16:00, Th 09:00–17:00, F 09:00–15:00.

Pargas tourist information, Strandvägen 28, +358 400-117-123. M–W 09:00–16:00, Th 09:00–17:00, F 09:00–15:00.

• Pargas kyrka. Medieval church.
• Gamla malmen. Wooden old town by the church.
• Pargas hembygdsmuseum, Storgårdsgatan 13, +358 2 458-1452. 1.6–31.8 Tue–Sun 11–16, other times by request. 3€, children under 12 free.
• Pargas industrimuseum, Gruvvägen 1, +358 2 458-1452. 18.6–18.8 Tue–Sun 11–16, other times by request. 3€, children under 12 free.
• Kalkgruvan. 24 h daily, except around 14:00. free.
• Art Bank, Köpmansgatan 24, +358 400-524-177. Tue–Fri 15–18, Sat 11–16, Su on request. Private Fine Arts Gallery, certified vendor of Dalí furniture. The permanent exhibition has a collection of sculptures, furniture and paintings by Salvador Dalí and you can get a dinner in his spirit (groups, advance booking). The varying exhibitions are about contemporary art. €8.

Pargas kyrka. Medieval church.

Gamla malmen. Wooden old town by the church.

Pargas hembygdsmuseum, Storgårdsgatan 13, +358 2 458-1452. 1.6–31.8 Tue–Sun 11–16, other times by request. 3€, children under 12 free.

Pargas industrimuseum, Gruvvägen 1, +358 2 458-1452. 18.6–18.8 Tue–Sun 11–16, other times by request. 3€, children under 12 free.

Kalkgruvan. 24 h daily, except around 14:00. free.

Art Bank, Köpmansgatan 24, +358 400-524-177. Tue–Fri 15–18, Sat 11–16, Su on request. Private Fine Arts Gallery, certified vendor of Dalí furniture. The permanent exhibition has a collection of sculptures, furniture and paintings by Salvador Dalí and you can get a dinner in his spirit (groups, advance booking). The varying exhibitions are about contemporary art. €8.

Most accommodation businesses also arrange activities.

Outdoor sports options include swimming, beach volley, golf, disk (frisbee) golf, horseback riding, boating, canoeing and fishing.

• Beach volley courts. 24 h daily. Free.
• Bläsnäs beach, Åsuddsvägen 4 (a kilometre north of the bus station, keep to the right at forks. Beach, shallow and deeper part separated by pontoon. Swim jump tower (5 m), beach huts, toilets. No guards. Sailing board, sup boards, kayaks etc. for rent, but a call in advance is needed ([tel:+358400531641 +358 400 531 641]). Also with teacher. Quay for visiting yachts, ramp for trailered boats. Free. Kayak/board €10/hr, canoe €20/hr, with teacher €50.
• Archipelagia Golf, Finbyvägen 87, +358 50-452-5300. 18 hole golf court. Restaurant. Greenfee in season (22.6–9.8) €55/40/25.
• Finby jogging/skiing route, Finbyvägen 87–89. 24h daily. 2.1 km jogging/walking route in the woods. Cross-country skiing tracks in winter, 1–10 km. Lights in evenings. Free. For renting yachts, smaller boats and canoes, see Archipelago Sea.

• Call of the old town. Festival in the old town, with garden sales, theatre and general merrymaking.
• Pargas orgeldagar, +358 40-596-8505. 15 and 27.6–1.7.2016, mostly at 19:00, some at 12:00 or other times. Organ and chamber music festival, concerts at varying locations, some in churches. Some concerts free (program leaflet 10€), others 20,–/15,–.
• Saaristo trail. Annually, late August. Cross-country running competition, with 1, 6, 11 and 18 km routes.

Call of the old town. Festival in the old town, with garden sales, theatre and general merrymaking.

Pargas orgeldagar, +358 40-596-8505. 15 and 27.6–1.7.2016, mostly at 19:00, some at 12:00 or other times. Organ and chamber music festival, concerts at varying locations, some in churches. Some concerts free (program leaflet 10€), others 20,–/15,–.

Saaristo trail. Annually, late August. Cross-country running competition, with 1, 6, 11 and 18 km routes.

Beach volley courts. 24 h daily. Free.

Bläsnäs beach, Åsuddsvägen 4 (a kilometre north of the bus station, keep to the right at forks. Beach, shallow and deeper part separated by pontoon. Swim jump tower (5 m), beach huts, toilets. No guards. Sailing board, sup boards, kayaks etc. for rent, but a call in advance is needed ([tel:+358400531641 +358 400 531 641]). Also with teacher. Quay for visiting yachts, ramp for trailered boats. Free. Kayak/board €10/hr, canoe €20/hr, with teacher €50.

Archipelagia Golf, Finbyvägen 87, +358 50-452-5300. 18 hole golf court. Restaurant. Greenfee in season (22.6–9.8) €55/40/25.

Finby jogging/skiing route, Finbyvägen 87–89. 24h daily. 2.1 km jogging/walking route in the woods. Cross-country skiing tracks in winter, 1–10 km. Lights in evenings. Free.

Most shops can be found in Köpmansgatan, a few near the church, some by Strandgatan or farther away.

• There are two large grocery stores (K-market Reimari and S-market) by the north part of the centre and a smaller (M-Market) in the south.
  • K-Supermarket Reimari, Kyrkoesplanaden 32 (by Skärgårdsvägen, 400m east of the turnabout, +358 2 454-6220. Mon–Sat 7-21, Sun 10-21. Customer quay on Kyrksundet, accessible by motorboat (low bridges). Pharmacy. Fuel station 200 m from the quay.
  • S-Market Parainen, Vapparvägen 3 (150m north of the turnabout. Mon-Sat 07–21, Sun 10–19. Café Kajutan in the same building (lunch Mon–Fri 10:30–18, Sat 10:30–17).
  • M-Market, Strandvägen 2, +358 20-700-5915 (?). Mon–Fri 7–22, Sat 8–22, Sun 9–22. Price for calls 8,35 c/call + 17,17 c/min.
• R-kioski, Strandvägen 12. Kiosk. Also fishing permits and post services,
• Torget, +358 40-589-1748. Saturday mornings, summertime also Wednesday evenings. Market. Not many sellers, but often some fish, berry and mushroom.
• Hamntorget. Summertime Th 16:00–20:00. Market.

For souvenirs, consider e.g.

• Gullkrona, Strandvägen (close to the north end of Köpmansgatan, +358 2 454-4065. Mon–Fri 9.30–17, Sat 9.30–13. Handicraft shop.
• Stentorp, Skråbbovägen 222 (6 km from the centre towards Turku, 2 km from the Archipelago road, +358 2 458-8711. Summertime 12–18, otherwise mostly by agreement. Sheep farm with quite pricey but excellent products from yarn and mittens to sheep fur coats and art. Coffee served in nice surroundings. Sheep available for caressing. Herding dog performances at some occasions.

There are two large grocery stores (K-market Reimari and S-market) by the north part of the centre and a smaller (M-Market) in the south.

• K-Supermarket Reimari, Kyrkoesplanaden 32 (by Skärgårdsvägen, 400m east of the turnabout, +358 2 454-6220. Mon–Sat 7-21, Sun 10-21. Customer quay on Kyrksundet, accessible by motorboat (low bridges). Pharmacy. Fuel station 200 m from the quay.
• S-Market Parainen, Vapparvägen 3 (150m north of the turnabout. Mon-Sat 07–21, Sun 10–19. Café Kajutan in the same building (lunch Mon–Fri 10:30–18, Sat 10:30–17).
• M-Market, Strandvägen 2, +358 20-700-5915 (?). Mon–Fri 7–22, Sat 8–22, Sun 9–22. Price for calls 8,35 c/call + 17,17 c/min.

There are two large grocery stores (K-market Reimari and S-market) by the north part of the centre and a smaller (M-Market) in the south.

• K-Supermarket Reimari, Kyrkoesplanaden 32 (by Skärgårdsvägen, 400m east of the turnabout, +358 2 454-6220. Mon–Sat 7-21, Sun 10-21. Customer quay on Kyrksundet, accessible by motorboat (low bridges). Pharmacy. Fuel station 200 m from the quay.
• S-Market Parainen, Vapparvägen 3 (150m north of the turnabout. Mon-Sat 07–21, Sun 10–19. Café Kajutan in the same building (lunch Mon–Fri 10:30–18, Sat 10:30–17).
• M-Market, Strandvägen 2, +358 20-700-5915 (?). Mon–Fri 7–22, Sat 8–22, Sun 9–22. Price for calls 8,35 c/call + 17,17 c/min.

There are two large grocery stores (K-market Reimari and S-market) by the north part of the centre and a smaller (M-Market) in the south.

• K-Supermarket Reimari, Kyrkoesplanaden 32 (by Skärgårdsvägen, 400m east of the turnabout, +358 2 454-6220. Mon–Sat 7-21, Sun 10-21. Customer quay on Kyrksundet, accessible by motorboat (low bridges). Pharmacy. Fuel station 200 m from the quay.
• S-Market Parainen, Vapparvägen 3 (150m north of the turnabout. Mon-Sat 07–21, Sun 10–19. Café Kajutan in the same building (lunch Mon–Fri 10:30–18, Sat 10:30–17).
• M-Market, Strandvägen 2, +358 20-700-5915 (?). Mon–Fri 7–22, Sat 8–22, Sun 9–22. Price for calls 8,35 c/call + 17,17 c/min.

R-kioski, Strandvägen 12. Kiosk. Also fishing permits and post services,

Torget, +358 40-589-1748. Saturday mornings, summertime also Wednesday evenings. Market. Not many sellers, but often some fish, berry and mushroom.

Hamntorget. Summertime Th 16:00–20:00. Market.

Gullkrona, Strandvägen (close to the north end of Köpmansgatan, +358 2 454-4065. Mon–Fri 9.30–17, Sat 9.30–13. Handicraft shop.

Stentorp, Skråbbovägen 222 (6 km from the centre towards Turku, 2 km from the Archipelago road, +358 2 458-8711. Summertime 12–18, otherwise mostly by agreement. Sheep farm with quite pricey but excellent products from yarn and mittens to sheep fur coats and art. Coffee served in nice surroundings. Sheep available for caressing. Herding dog performances at some occasions.

Most restaurants are in the centre, in the pedestrian street Köpmansgatan or nearby. Consider also cafés and restaurants in the See, Buy and Sleep sections.

• Kamu, Skräbbölevägen 2, +358 50 4524049.
• Pargas kebab-pizzeria, Strandvägen 10, +358 2 4588880. A fast food joint.
• Restaurang Malmen, Strandvägen 1, +358 2 4585555.
• Venezia Pizzeria, Köpmansgatan 7, +358 2 4585112. M–Th –20:00, Fr–Su? –21:00. An Italian restaurant. Long hours.
• Suntti, Strandvägen 3, +358 40 0829892.

Kamu, Skräbbölevägen 2, +358 50 4524049.

Pargas kebab-pizzeria, Strandvägen 10, +358 2 4588880. A fast food joint.

Restaurang Malmen, Strandvägen 1, +358 2 4585555.

Venezia Pizzeria, Köpmansgatan 7, +358 2 4585112. M–Th –20:00, Fr–Su? –21:00. An Italian restaurant. Long hours.

Suntti, Strandvägen 3, +358 40 0829892.

• Axo. Café of the Axo bakery.
• Fredrikastugan, Fredrikaplan (by the church, +358 40-177-3020. June and July: Sun–Thu 11.00–16.00; other times by request; large groups should announce their arrival beforehand. Museum café. Former home of Fredrika Tengström (later Runeberg; 1807–1879), writer and wife of the national poet.
• Café Hallonblad. Lunch weekdays 11:00–14:00. Nice café with several individually furnished rooms. Lunch €10, lunch soup €8,50.
• Café Nathalie.

Axo. Café of the Axo bakery.

Fredrikastugan, Fredrikaplan (by the church, +358 40-177-3020. June and July: Sun–Thu 11.00–16.00; other times by request; large groups should announce their arrival beforehand. Museum café. Former home of Fredrika Tengström (later Runeberg; 1807–1879), writer and wife of the national poet.

Café Hallonblad. Lunch weekdays 11:00–14:00. Nice café with several individually furnished rooms. Lunch €10, lunch soup €8,50.

Café Nathalie.

• Library, Strandvägen 28, +358 44-358-5880. M-Th 10-19, F 10-16, Sa 10-14. Public computer, Wi-Fi, printer etc. Area code 2. Good GSM coverage in the town. In the outer archipelago and some rural areas there may be local lack of signal.

Postal code 21600 Pargas for the town with surroundings (the area of the formal municipality).

Library, Strandvägen 28, +358 44-358-5880. M-Th 10-19, F 10-16, Sa 10-14. Public computer, Wi-Fi, printer etc.

• The Archipelago Trail, which comes from Kaarina and continues to Nagu and beyond. A good way to see the archipelago without boat, using the ferries instead. By bike, car or bus.