Laitila

Laitila (Swedish: Letala) is a small town in Finland Proper.

Understand

Laitila, with some 8,500 inhabitants has been regarded a town since 1986. It is surrounded by fields and known for production of egg and early vegetables (75% of Finnish early carrots), nowadays also for the brewery and soft drink factory (Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas). Indeed, a significant part of its industry is about food processing. Laitila belongs to a common commuting area with Uusikaupunki and Rauma, still with more people commuting to the town than away from it.

The area is rich in finds from the Iron Age, the most notable being the Vainionmäki grave field. The first glass item of Finland, from Roman times, was found here. Among built environments of national interest are the villages of Untamala and Suontaka and the farm yard of Kauppila.

Tourist information (Poukan talo), Keskuskatu 4 (in the centre), +358 40-653-7510. In a farmhouse from the 1700s. Exhibitions about chicken farming and about the soft drink factory. Café. Exhibitions €1
Laitila guides (Laitilan oppaat), +358 2 854-461. Guided tours

Get in

Loimaa is on E8 58 km north from Turku and on road 43 from the inland towards Uusikaupunki.

There are several coaches daily from Turku, mainly by Onnibus. Most are express or special express services, stopping at "Meijeri" 📍 by E8, a hundred metres east or west of Keskuskatu. Some come all the way from Helsinki, continuing to Pori or Oulu. Coaches originating in Turku usually head for Uusikaupunki, Rauma, Pori, Tampere or Vaasa. The regular services (also normal express ones?) also go via the Bus Station 📍 and other key locations.

Get around

See Finland Proper#By_taxi

The town itself is compact, but for the surroundings you will probably need a bike or car. Taxis should be available.

See

There are several local history museums in old houses, often maintained by the local communities of the villages. Many open on request only. Enquiries to the head of culture +358 2 8501-6460 .

Kaariaisten mäkitupalaismuseo, +358 2 854-461. Open by agreement. A mäkitupa, house of a poor tenant family, who lived eight persons in a single room. Museum since the 1930s. Interior as in the 1920s.
Kauppila (Kauppilan umpipiha), Koukkelantie 240 (3,4 km south from the centre, 5 km from E8 along the signed route), 60.843°, 21.712°, +358 40-653-7510, matkailu@lailanet.fi. June–August Su 12:00–17:00, 27 June–15 August also Tu–F 12:00–17:00, Sa 12:00–16:00. Local history museum: the enclosed yard of an old wealthy farm with buildings, the oldest of which are from the 1600s. The farm was inhabited into the 1950s, and is a museum since 1975. Sheep. Café. Events in summer. Adults €4, children free
Romanov heritage (Seppo Rinnen kokoelma), Koulutie 2 (in the centre), 60.8804°, 21.6960°, +358 400-435-255. Porcelain and other items from the Romanovs era of the Russian Empire.
Saint Michael's Church (Pyhän Mikaelin kirkko), Keskuskatu 7 (in the centre), 60.8783°, 21.6931°, +358 2-851-565. 2021-06-09
Saint Peter's Church (Pyhän Pietarin kirkko), 60.9085°, 21.6341°. Church originally built in 1785. There has been a church on the site already in medieval times. Services on some holidays, evening prayers in summer. Check days.
Suontaka. The Suontaka village of some 200 inhabitants is a cultural heritage site of national significance, as it has kept the general layout from the 18th century, before the great land reform that split the villages. The buildings are mostly from the 19th and 20th century, representing a continuing tradition. In the mid-18th century there were 6–8 proper farms in the village, and rented small farms scattered in the surroundings. The village is still vivid, with a small school (classes 1–6) and several associations.
Untamalan kylänraitti. Former main road of the Untamala village, a built environment of national significance. By the road is Untamala local history museum (Sarkin talonpoikaistalo), the Saint Peter Church and the community centre Ventola with a café, in an old farmer's house. Nearby is a culture path through a grave field from 0–200 CE.

Do

Hill forts

There are several ancient hill forts in Laitila: Kirkkelinna, Hautvuori, Seppälän linnavuoret and the ones of Vaimaro's Matinmaa. These were used as refuges when enemies or pirates were coming, steep outcrop hills, where walls were built at less steep sections. In addition to their value as historical sights, a visit usually entails a nice walk through the forest and fine views, and the hills offer adventures for children by their rugged milieu. The sites are protected, so don't move rocks or otherwise change the environment.

Hautvuori, 60.8616°, 21.7776°. Bronze Age hill fort.
Kirkkelinna, 60.8660°, 21.7601°. Iron Age hill fort.
Seppälän Linnavuori, 60.9122°, 21.5759°. Iron Age hill fort, some findings possibly from the Bronze Age.

Buy

Eat

Ahoska Catering, Keskuskatu 24 (in the centre), 60.8814°, 21.6963°, +358 400-599-786. Lunch M–F 10:30-14:30. Lunch and catering. 2021-06-09
Ravintola Kukonkulma, Keskuskatu 18 (in the centre), 60.8800°, 21.6942°, +358 2 856-058. M–Th 10:30–22:00, F 10:30–23, Sa 11:00–23:00, Su 12:00–22:00; lunch M–F 10:30–14:00. Lunch €7–9; kebab €9–13, salad €11–14, burger €14, pizza €15–20, à la carte €20
Hyvinvointikeskus Poukanville, Keskuskatu 4 (in the centre), 60.8771°, 21.6911°, +358 2 857-8233, poukanville@terveyskoti.fi. Lunch –13:30. €9
Lounaskahvila Wilhelmiina & Waltteri, Turuntie 11 (in the centre), 60.8732°, 21.7026°, +358 2 856-380, anne.ketoniemi@lailanet.fi. Lunch 10:45–13:30. €7–9 2021-06-09

Drink

Laitilan Kievari below offers some nightlife.

Tiihosen Leipomo, Keskuskatu 13 (in the centre), 60.8804°, 21.6959°, +358 2 854-211. M–F 07:30–16:30, Sa 09:00–14:00. Café and patisserie.

Sleep

Laitilan Kievari, Keskuskatu 20, 60.8801°, 21.6942°, info@laitilankievari.fi. Lunch M–F 10:30–14:00. Hotel and hostel. Three restaurants and café. Sauna. Lunch. Live music some evenings, for dancing or otherwise. Single €95, double €130, additional bed €40 (breakfast included); room with sauna €170–180; hostel €58/75/90, room with en suite shower and toilet €88, breakfast +€5; lunch €6.50/10/15–20 (soup/buffet/+separate main)

Connect

Library, Kauppakatu 5, 60.8761°, 21.6975°, +358 40-485-3543, kirjasto@laitila.fi. Sep–Apr: M–F 10:00–19:00, Sa 10:00–15:00. Library. Chrome computers, tablets and scanner for public use. Foreign newspapers and magazins might be available over the net through PressReader.

Go next

The surrounding Vakka-Suomi countryside
Uusikaupunki on the coast, the main town of Vakka-Suomi

Laitila - city in the region of Southwest Finland