Eckerö

Eckerö

The main language is Swedish, with over 90% of the population being Swedish speakers, and the main ethnic group is Finnish.

The town was previously known as Ekkero but is referred to as Eckero presently. The city’s coat of arms features a ship, which possibly references the shipping industry that is so important to the islands.

Eckero is an island and is considered to be part of the mainland Aland. It became an important port with the establishment of the postal service in 1630. At that time, the voyage across the Baltic Sea was dangerous, and the shortest route was between Eckero and Grisslehamn. The main business became carrying mail. Visitors like to visit the Mail and Customs House, which is an oversized but beautiful building that was built as a symbol of the Russian Empire. Located at the westernmost point of Aland, at the time it was built, this was the Russian custom’s border with Sweden. It became part of the Aland Islands in 1994.

There are several activities that are offered at the Mail and Customs House, such as a café where visitors can get a famous Åland Pancake (which is said to be more of a custard than a pancake and is made of cooked semolina or rice pudding that is baked with flour, eggs and cardamom), and a museum where visitors can learn about the post route and the men who traveled it. There is also an exhibition hall where pieces of art are showcased. Up the road from the Mail and Customs House is an old mail pier and a memorial for the men who transported the mail across the sea. Local farmers would traverse the dangerous sea to make sure the mail was delivered on time. Summer storms or winter ice made it more dangerous, and many of the men did not survive. The mail route monument was raised in 1946 as a tribute to those men.

Eckero is also a busy harbor where internationals come in, and it is the fourth busiest in Finland. It is one of the sunniest places in the Nordic, which makes it an ideal destination for tourists.

Many Alanders come to Eckero during summer holiday where they enjoy its beach atmosphere. Additionally, they may take in a game safari zoo tour where they see red deer, wild boar, llamas, and ostriches. Or perhaps they visit the lighthouse in the Sea of Aland where they can sip coffee and watch for seals.

Eckero is one of the places, besides Mariehamn, that has resources for tourism. There are several hotels where guests can stay, and most of them have restaurants in-house. Or, for the more adventurous guests, Karingsunds camping is an option. Karingsund is a bay and a natural harbor, with red boathouses and boatsheds lined up in a picturesque manner and sail boats dancing over the waves hitting the docks. Locals come here to tend to their boats and tourists come to relax at the local bodega and enjoy the view of the boathouses and the Baltic Sea. Tranquil waters and blue skies make the perfect setting for relaxing and soaking in the atmosphere of this fishing village.

The Hunting and Fishing Museum is located next to the boathouses and boasts a collection of historical tools used for hunting and fishing in the Aland Islands. The museum hosts summer expeditions where visitors can learn about Aland and the hunting and fishing culture there. There is pearl digging and trout games. Guests also learn about trawling and various types of fishing, in addition to seal hunting. There is a geotrail that is lined with rocks from different time periods. Visitors walk this 350-meter trail that tells the story of Aland’s geological history, while passing boathouses and ending at the rocks by the sea. Those who geocache are sure to collect some here.

Of course, travelers to Eckero cannot miss seeing Eckero Church, which is located in the western part of Aland. The church is one of the smallest ones on Aland Island. Made of the typical red rapakivi granite, the church is dedicated to St. Lawrence, a deacon in Rome who died a martyr in 258. The church is said to have a grate or grill on the eastern wall in reference to St. Lawrence being grilled to death. There is also an iron-age burial ground next to the church.

There is a vast amount of things to see and do in Eckero. Whether you want to learn about its history or the history of the Aland Islands, or you want to experience the culture, or if you want to relax and take in the beautiful scenery and appreciate everything the city has to offer, Eckero is a small town that offers a big experience and memories that will last a lifetime.

Sources
https://adamantkitchen.com/finnish-pancakes-alandspannkaka/

https://biveros.com/

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Eckero

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