With great enthusiasm we welcome a new route as an official part of the St. Olav Ways: St. Olav Ostrobothnia in northern Finland!
A pilgrimage hiking route through coastal Ostrobothnia, that is connected to the Swedish-Norwegian St. Olavsleden, leading to Nidaros cathedral in Trondheim. The Ostrobothnian trail is 500 km long in total, and divided into 21 stages, each suitable for a day’s hiking.
The route leads you through Ostrobothnia’s varied countryside, from open fields and marshland, to dense forests and river valleys. During your hike, you can experience the scenic views of the archipelago, the unique meteorite crater at Söderfjärden, and picturesque small towns and villages along the coast. The route consists of a nothern and southern part (starting in either Karleby or Kristinestad), both meeting in the city of Vaasa. Outside the Trinity church in Vaasa’s city centre, you find a so called milestone,telling you that it’s 1070 km to Nidaros (Trondheim). From Vaasa, you can take a ferry over to Sweden.
The geographical area of Ostrobothnia is rich in traces of the Olav legacy, both tangible and intangible. The Olav cult reached the region in the 13th and 14th centuries. St. Olav became the patron saint of Baltic Sea voyagers and is also regarded as the guardian of all travelers and wanderers. Several medieval churches along the route are either dedicated to St. Olav or feature his depiction in art, altars, or liturgy. A report about the presence of the Olav legacy in the region has been written, as part of the development project. Read it here (Swedish only, link down the page): https://stolavostrobothnia.fi/en/history/
The route was accepted as an official part of the St. Olav Ways by the board of the Association for the cultural route of St. Olav Ways. They were very impressed by the meticulous development work that had been ongoing for several years, led by Kvarnen samkommun with project manger Carola Wiik. The route is fully established, but the full marking with the St. Olav symbol is now in progress. Several thousand physical marking elements are ready to be placed!
For more information about the route, see the official website of the St. Olav Ostrobothnia: https://stolavostrobothnia.fi/en/home/
Both photos: Kaj Lindh.
