City/Region: The city of Vaasa, Ostrobothnia Region
General Introduction
Vaasa is Ostrobothnia's window to the west. The town is the spiritual heart of Ostrobothnia, open to all. As it has good connections with the outside world, international winds of change reach the town quickly. Vaasa is the biggest town in the area with over 57.000 inhabitants 72 % Finnish-speaking, 25 % Swedish-speaking and 3 % with other languages as their mother tongue.
Non-stop flights from two capital cities, Helsinki and Stockholm – a total of 15 arrivals on weekdays – and eight train arrivals as well as a ferry route from Sweden make Vaasa easily accessible.
Vaasa is located at the narrowest point of the gulf of Bothnia, only 80 km/50 miles from Umeå in Sweden.
Internationalism in commercial life of Vaasa has strong traditions. Today the Vaasa region is internationally known for its leading industries, especially within the fields of energy and electronics. The excellent cooperation between the industries and the universities and the polytechnics is a good example of networking and cooperation.
A healthy environment is a part of Vaasa. The sea with its countless islands gives Vaasa the authentic feel of a coastal town. Boating, fishing, exploring the archipelago and taking exercise along the beautiful shore are all popular with the townspeople. The warmth of the town's welcome is felt everywhere, in its bustling market, in its business life, in its friendly service. And as Vaasa is Finland's sunniest town, the sun is often shining too.
Vaasa is a prominent and important university city. The scientific educational institutions the University of Vaasa, the Åbo Akademi i Vasa and the Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration are providing education and research on a high level. At Vaasa Polytechnic and the Swedish Polytechnic, Finland knowledge and skills of higher education are united. Vaasa polytechnic is bilingual, and beside Finnish and Swedish instruction is given also in English and German.
www.vaasa.fi
www.obotnia.fi
History
King Charles IX founded the town of Vaasa on October 2, 1606 around the oldest harbour and trade point in the Mustasaari church village ca. 7 km to the southwest from the present city. King Charles IX gave the town the name of his royal house.
Thanks to the sea connections ship building and trade, especially tar trade, was flourishing from the seventeenth century and most of the inhabitants earned their living from it.
In 1683 the trivial school moved from Vaasa and four years later a new schoolhouse was built in Vaasa. Finland’s first library was founded in Vaasa in 1794.
The mainly wooden and densely built town was almost totally destroyed in a fire on August 3, 1852.
The new town rose in 1862 about 7 km to the northwest from the old town. The town’s location at the sea offered good conditions for seafaring.
The town plan in the Empire style was planned by Carl Axel Setterberg.
http://www.vaasa.fi/Default.aspx?id=384855
Travel to City
Vaasa is closer than you think!
Non-stop flights from two capital cities, Helsinki and Stockholm – a total of 15 arrivals on weekdays – and eight train arrivals as well as a ferry route from Sweden make Vaasa easily accessible.
The airport is only 10 km from the hotels and the market place, the harbour only 5 minutes away and the railway station is in the city centre. There is no need for a car in Vaasa – everything is within walking distance!
http://matkailu.vaasa.fi/Default.aspx?id=295166
www.finnair.com
www.blue1.fi
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