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1. KASTELHOLM CASTLE The only medieval castle of Åland is mentioned for the first time in 1388 as "Kastelholm House." The castle was originally established on an islet and it was changed and extended successively from the 14th until the 17th century. Fief-holders and their bailiffs appointed by the King of Sweden, ruled the castle and the province of Åland . During the 15th and the 16th centuries Kastelholm was involved in political conflicts, both uprising and Danish piracy. Thus the castle gradually lost its significance and decayed. The last fight of the castle took place in 1599 between supporters of Duke Karl and King Sigismund. The Wasa-dynasty Gustavus Wasa took a personal interest in Åland and Kastelholm and its adjacent Royal demensne. In 1556 he spent some time at Kastelholm. In the same year he gave Åland and the Kastelholm castle in fief to his younger son Duke John. Duke John visited the castle in 1557, 1559 and 1561. He also held his brother Erik XIV prisoner there in 1571. Decayed and burnt down Royal stateholders resided in the castle until 1634 when Åland was put under the country governer of Åbo. The castle of Kastelholm lost its significance and was left to slow decay.In 1745 a fire destroyed large parts of the castle and transformed it into a ruin. The northern wing was still in use as a granary until the year 1930, when the first museum of Åland cultural history was established here. The castle has been restored several times between 1890 and 2001. 2. JAN KARLSGÅRDEN OPEN-AIR MUSEUM The open-air museum was founded in the 1930s. The museum has about twenty buildings which have been moved here from different places in Åland. Jan Karlsgården is built up as a typical Åland farm in the second half of the 19th century. It includes a farmhouse (dwelling-house) a cottage for summer use. double-sheds. a loft-shed. a granary on posts, and a yard for the animals with stables and sheds and houses for storage. Special buildings have been added through the years. 3. PRISON MUSEUM CROWN PRISON VITA BJÖRN The prison was built in 1784 and was used as a prison until 1975. The building is devided into one dwelling-part for the warders and their families and one prison-part with three original rooms and two rooms added later. The exhibition in the prison-part is ordered in a chronological way showing the development of correctional treatment form the 18th century until about 1950. 4. MAIL ROAD EXHIBITION AND HANDICRAFT SHOP The mail road between Sweden and Finland dates back to the time of Queen Kristina. In the 17th century the postal service was organized within the then great power of Sweden. The mail road ran via the Kastelholm castle to the local post-office and further along the gravelled road passing the place where Jan Karlsgården is situated today. In the shop next to the exhibition local handicraft is sold. 5. GRINDSTUGAN - TOURIST INFORMATION/MUSEUM SHOP In Grindstugan, the gate-keepers lodge, you will find all kinds of information on Åland, and there is a computer with internet access. In the shop you will also find souvenirs, picture post-cards and ice-cream. Mail your post-cards here and you will get a special Kastelholm postage stamp 6. THE INN AT JAN KARLSGÅRDEN The Inn is the area’s restaurant and cafeteria, open during the summer season. The menu includes Åland’s pancake or lunch of the day in the cafeteria and the á la carte service in the restaurant.
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