Old Rauma facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
Hauenguano square
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| Location | Rauma, Finland |
| Criteria | Cultural: iv, v |
| Inscription | 1991 (15th Session) |
| Area | 29 ha |
| Buffer zone | 142 ha |
Old Rauma (Finnish: Vanha Rauma, Swedish: Gamla Raumo) is the old wooden town center of Rauma, Finland. It is a very special place because of its unique wooden buildings and how its medieval streets are still laid out. In 1991, UNESCO added Old Rauma to its World Heritage List. This means it's a place of great importance to everyone in the world. It is also one of the few medieval towns left in Finland.
Old Rauma covers an area of about 0.3 square kilometers, which is like 74 football fields. About 600 buildings are there, including houses and smaller sheds. Around 800 people live in this historic area. The oldest buildings you see today were built in the 1700s. This is because two big fires, one in 1640 and another in 1682, destroyed most of the town. Even with the fires, the streets still follow their original medieval plan.
Most of the wooden buildings have just one story. Some older ones also have basements. The main houses are along the bigger streets. Smaller buildings, like sheds for storage, are found along the narrow alleyways. Many people still live in these homes today. Some buildings on the main streets and around the town square are now shops and businesses. In the 1700s, Rauma grew bigger than just Old Rauma. More ships came and went, bringing new ideas and making the city more modern.
Contents
Discovering Old Rauma's History
Even though fires destroyed much of Old Rauma, some old buildings and ruins from medieval times still exist. These places tell stories of the past.
The Church of the Holy Cross
The Church of the Holy Cross is a very important building. It was once part of a Franciscan monastery, which is a place where monks lived and worked. The church opened in 1512. Inside, you can see beautiful paintings from the medieval period. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Old Rauma.
Other Historic Buildings
Another church, the Church of the Holy Trinity, was also built in the 1400s. Sadly, it burned down in the 1640 fire. The only other old stone building is the Old Town Hall. It was built much later, in 1776.
Museums and Special Houses
You can also visit some interesting houses that are now museums:
- The Kirsti house: This was a seaman's home from the 1700s and 1800s. It shows what life was like for sailors.
- The Marela house: This house belonged to a shipowner. It dates back to the 1700s, but its front was updated in the 1800s. It gives a peek into the lives of wealthy ship owners.
Old Rauma is a living museum, showing how people lived centuries ago in Finland.
See also
In Spanish: Antigua Rauma para niños
