Sastamala is a Finnish city in the province of Pirkanmaa, near the provincial border of Satakunta. The city has a population of 24,139 inhabitants (April 30, 2015) and an area of 1,531.75 km², of which 1,429.04 km² is land and 102.71 km² is inland water (January 1, 2015). Sastamala is the largest municipality in Pirkanmaa and its neighbors are Huittinen, Hämeenkyrö, Ikaalinen, Kankaanpää, Kokemäki, Nokia, Pori, Punkalaidun, Ulvila, Urjala and Vesilahti.
1. St. Olaf’s Church in Tyrvää (Tyrvään Pyhän Olavin Kirkko)
This
is one of Sastamala’s most iconic and historically significant
landmarks. A late medieval stone church built around 1506–1516 on the
shores of Lake Rautavesi, it features a picturesque countryside setting
just a few kilometers from the town center (Kallialan kirkkotie 50).
History: Originally Catholic, it became Lutheran after the
Reformation. It fell out of regular use after a new church was built in
1855 but was revived as a popular wedding venue. A devastating arson
fire in 1997 destroyed much of the interior. Reconstruction involved
over 1,000 volunteers, and the church reopened in stages, with major
artwork completed by 2009.
Architecture and Art: The exterior retains
its medieval character with an 18th-century-style shingle roof. The
interior features contemporary Finnish art by Kuutti Lavonen (gallery
panels, including Gospel writers, Via Crucis, and Last Judgement) and
Osmo Rauhala (altar area with themes from Genesis, plus pulpit paintings
inspired by the Gospel of John). The congregation is seeking UNESCO
World Heritage status.
Visiting: Open mainly in summer (e.g., late
May to August). Guided tours available; modest admission fee. The serene
lakeside location makes it ideal for reflection or photography.
2. Stone Castle of Pirunvuori (Pirunvuoren Kivilinna)
A unique
natural and cultural site on Salonsaari Island in Lake Rautavesi (near
Ellivuori Resort). It combines geological features with artistic
history.
Geology and Nature: Pirunvuori is the remains of an
ancient volcano, rising 93 meters above the lake. The top is a nature
reserve with trails (about 1 km hike). Rocky western slopes feature
caves, including the notable "Pirunluola" (Devil’s Cave), with local
legends of a tunnel to a distant mansion.
The "Stone Castle": This is
the atelier and open-air exhibition space of painter Emil Danielsson
(1882–1967), opened to the public in 1976. It includes exhibitions of
his works and views of the surroundings.
Visiting: Best accessed via
Ellivuori (parking and maps available). Open seasonally, especially
summer; guided tours recommended for deeper context (around €120 for 2
hours).
3. Pukstaavi – The Museum of Finnish Book
Located in
Vammala (Marttilankatu 12), this national museum celebrates Finland’s
literary and book history, fitting for a town designated as the Book
Capital.
It explores the cultural history of Finnish books, printing,
and literature through exhibits, making it a must-visit for book lovers.
It also ties into local events like the Vanhan kirjallisuuden päivät
(Old Literature Days) festival.
4. Keikyä Suspension Bridge
(Keikyän Riippusilta)
A striking engineering landmark in the Keikyä
area (Myllytie 33). At 228 meters long, it is Finland’s longest
suspension bridge and spans the Kokemäenjoki River, offering excellent
views of the waterways.
It’s popular for pedestrians and
photographers, especially on clear days, and serves as a gateway to
exploring river-based activities.
5. Sastamalan Pyhän Marian
Kirkko (St. Mary’s Church in Karkku)
A medieval stone church from the
late 15th century in the Karkku area. It represents the historical
importance of the Sastamala parish, once one of the largest in the
Satakunta region. It’s a quieter but worthwhile historical site with
ties to medieval Finnish ecclesiastical architecture.
6. Other
Notable Landmarks and Sites
House of Mr. Clutterbuck (Herra
Hakkaraisen Talo): A playful site based on a popular Finnish children’s
book series, featuring interactive elements for families.
Pirulanvuori Observation Tower: A 15-meter tower in Suodenniemi
(northern Sastamala) offering panoramic lake views. Its scenery is
famously depicted on the Finnish 1-euro coin.
Sastamala Museum
(Sastamalan Seudun Museo): Housed in the historic Tower Villa, it covers
local cultural history with engaging displays.
Ellivuori Resort and
Ski Center: Combines nature activities (hiking, canoeing, fat biking),
winter skiing, and accommodations. Great base for exploring Pirunvuori.
Marshal’s Saloon Coach: A historic railway carriage linked to a 1942
meeting between Marshal Mannerheim and Adolf Hitler (on display
seasonally).
Prehistoric and Iron Age Settlement
Archaeological evidence shows
human activity in the Sastamala area dating back to the Iron Age and
earlier. A notable find is a stone grave (cairn) at Ristimäki in
Vammala, dated to the 4th century AD (Younger Roman Iron Age, roughly
200–400 AD). This burial contained swords and other items indicating
wealth and connections to coastal burial traditions—making it the only
known inland example of this type at the time.
During the Vendel
Period (later Iron Age), cemeteries became more common, suggesting
population growth and increasing settlement density. Recent studies,
including analyses of finds like an equal-armed relief brooch, highlight
the area's role in broader Migration Period networks, with influences
possibly linked to sites like Helgö in Sweden.
These finds indicate
that the region, situated along the Kokemäenjoki River watershed, was
attractive for settlement due to its waterways, fertile lands, and
strategic position for trade and resources.
Medieval Period: The
Parish of Sastamala
The name Sastamala (first recorded as Sastamall)
appears in a letter from Swedish King Birger Magnusson around 1300–1303.
By the early 14th century, it was formally recognized as a parish. It
became the largest parish in the historical province of Satakunta,
extending influence northward and serving as an important ecclesiastical
and administrative center.
Medieval Sastamala featured stone churches
that remain key landmarks:
St. Mary's Church (Karkku): A late
15th-century grey stone church (built around 1497–1505), dedicated to
the Virgin Mary. It served as a central parish church and is referenced
in the modern coat of arms of Sastamala (a golden consecration cross).
It fell out of regular use in the 19th century but has been preserved
and studied for its acoustics and architecture.
St. Olaf's Church
(Tyrvää/Kalliala): Another late medieval grey stone church, built around
1510–1516. It was a Catholic church that transitioned to Lutheran use
after the Reformation. It suffered fires (including a major arson in
1997 that destroyed much of the interior) but was meticulously
reconstructed. Its dramatic location by the river rapids makes it
visually striking.
The area supported trade, agriculture, and
craftsmanship. The parish included chapel parishes and outposts, with
connections to coastal trade via the Gulf of Bothnia.
Swedish Rule,
Autonomy, and 19th–20th Century Developments
Like much of Finland,
the region was under Swedish rule from the medieval period until the
early 19th century (when Russia took control of Finland). It experienced
the typical shifts of Finnish rural life: agrarian economy, village
structures formalized in the 18th-century Great Partition, and gradual
modernization.
Vammala (the current administrative center) has deep
roots in the area. It developed as a market town:
Market town status
in 1915 (within Tyrvis Municipality).
Full town (city) status in
1965.
Incorporated surrounding areas like Tyrvis and Karkku in 1973,
and Suodenniemi in 2007.
Other component municipalities (Äetsä,
Mouhijärvi, Kiikoinen) had their own distinct histories as rural
parishes with wooden churches built in the 19th century.
Modern
Municipal Mergers (2009–2013)
Contemporary Sastamala was officially
established on January 1, 2009, through the merger of the town of
Vammala with the municipalities of Äetsä and Mouhijärvi. In 2013,
Kiikoinen joined, expanding the area.
This was part of a broader wave
of Finnish municipal consolidations aimed at improving efficiency and
services. The new entity took the historical name Sastamala and covers
about 1,429 km² of land (plus water), making it the largest municipality
by area in Pirkanmaa. Its population is around 23,000–24,000 (declining
slowly, like many rural Finnish areas), with Vammala as the hub.
Cultural Identity and Modern Era
Sastamala brands itself as the "Book
Capital of Finland" due to its literary heritage and institutions like
the Pukstaavi Finnish Book Museum (opened 2011). It hosts events such as
the Old Literature Days and Sastamala Gregoriana (early music festival).
Other notable sites include:
Pirunvuori (Devil's Mountain) — ancient
geological features and caves.
Various 19th- and 20th-century wooden
churches.
Museums preserving local cultural history.
The historic
Marshal's Saloon Coach (linked to Mannerheim's 1942 meeting with Hitler,
though not originally from the area).
The economy mixes services,
industry (e.g., manufacturing), and primary production (agriculture,
forestry). The municipality lies along key highways and has good
connections to Tampere, Pori, and beyond.
Size and Terrain
Sastamala covers a total area of 1,531.75 km², of
which 1,429.12 km² is land and 96.14 km² (about 6.3%) is water. This
makes it the largest municipality by area in the Pirkanmaa region.
Topography: The terrain is characteristic of southern Finland’s
post-glacial landscape, featuring low hills, river valleys, agricultural
plains, and forested uplands. Average elevation is around 87 meters
above sea level, with a minimum of 29 m and a maximum of 187 m.
The
landscape includes a mix of rocky outcrops, glacial erratics (large
boulders), wetlands, and relatively flat to gently undulating areas
suitable for agriculture and settlement. Higher points like Pirunvuori
("Devil's Mountain") on Salonsaari island in Lake Rautavesi rise about
93 m above the lake and feature caves and rocky slopes.
The
Kokemäenjoki River (part of one of Finland’s major river systems flowing
ultimately to the Gulf of Bothnia at Pori) bisects the municipality,
creating valleys, floodplains, and rapids (e.g., Vammaskoski).
Hydropower plants (e.g., at Tyrvää and Äetsä) regulate flows and
influence local hydrology.
Lakes and Hydrology
Sastamala is
rich in water bodies, with lakes covering a significant portion of the
area. It is often described as having beautiful lake scenery, with the
town center (Vammala) picturesquely located at the confluence or
crossroads of major lakes.
Key water bodies include:
Kokemäenjoki
River — The central dividing feature.
Lake Liekovesi and Lake
Rautavesi (often considered together; combined ~30 km² surface area, max
depth ~26 m) — Prominent in the central area.
Lake Kulovesi.
Other
notable lakes: Houhajärvi (Houha), Ylinen (Ylistenjärvi) (~4.4 km²),
Kiikoinen (Kiikoisjärvi) (~4.2 km²), Mouhijärvi (~6.9 km², max depth 17
m).
These lakes connect to the Kokemäenjoki system, supporting
biodiversity, moderating local microclimates, and enabling activities
like boating, fishing, and canoeing. Wetlands and shorelines add to the
hydrological network. Seasonal flooding occurs in river valleys,
influenced by snowmelt and precipitation patterns.
Climate
Sastamala has a humid continental climate (Dfb), typical of inland
southern Finland:
Cold winters with snow cover from roughly November
to April.
Mild summers.
Average annual precipitation around
700–750 mm, with higher amounts in summer and autumn.
Temperatures:
Winter (e.g., February) highs near -1°C and lows around -9°C; summer
(July) highs ~23°C and lows ~13°C.
The lakes and river moderate
temperatures somewhat and contribute to humidity. Climate change trends
(milder winters, altered precipitation) affect flood risks and ice
cover.
Vegetation and Land Use
Forests dominate much of the
land, typical of Finland’s boreal zone, with coniferous (pine, spruce)
and mixed deciduous trees. Areas like the Ritajärvi Nature Reserve
feature old-growth forests, small wilderness lakes, and impressive
glacial erratics.
Agricultural plains exist along river valleys and
lower areas.
Low population density (~16.3 inhabitants/km²) preserves
extensive natural areas, with 161 villages and a significant rural
population (about two-thirds live outside the main centers).
There are a total of 161 villages in Sastamala, and two thirds of the
municipality's population live in rural areas and villages. The villages
are organized into more than 40 village associations. The village
division was created with the great division in the 18th century, and
thus does not fully correspond to the current situation. For example,
Illo and Putaja are located on the lands of other villages and cannot be
found in the list.
Districts of the central area
Hoppu, Iisa,
Kalliala, Kaukola, Ketola, Lousaja, Marttila, Myllymaa, Nokkakylä,
Nuupala, Näntölä, Ojansuu, Parviala, Pitkämäki, Raivio, Roismala,
Ruoksamo, Sastamala, Sileekallio, Sylvää, Tyrväänkylä, Varila,
Vinkinmäki, Vinkki, Vinkkilä
According to the 2018 regional distribution, Sastamala has the
following parishes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland:
Sastamala Parish (formerly Vammala Parish)
Karku Chapel Congregation
Keikyä chapel congregation
Kiika Chapel Congregation
Kiikoinen
chapel congregation
Mouhijärvi Chapel Congregation
Suodenniemi
Chapel Congregation
Among the congregations of the Finnish Orthodox
Church, the Tampere Orthodox congregation operates in the Sastamala
region.
Among the member congregations of the Pentecostal Church
of Finland, the Äetsä Pentecostal congregation operates in Sastamala.
Kiikoinen Pentecostal Congregation, Mouhijärvi Pentecostal Congregation
and Vammala Pentecostal Congregation operate as independent Pentecostal
congregations in Sastamala.
Former parishes
In the following
list, parishes that were abolished in historical time in the current
area of the city of Sastamala are mentioned.
Karku parish
(combined with Tyrvää parish to become Vammala parish in 2004)
Keikyä
parish (joined to Sastamala parish in 2009)
Kiika parish (joined to
Sastamala parish in 2009)
Kiikoinen parish (joined to Sastamala
parish in 2013)
Mouhijärvi parish (joined to Sastamala parish in
2009)
Suodenniemi parish (joined to Vammala parish in 2007)
Tyrvää
parish (combined with Karku parish to become Vammala parish in 2004)
Finland's book capital
Sastamala has a long
tradition in literature. One of the biggest themed events is the Old
Literature Days organized in the city center in the summer. In July
2011, the Finnish book museum Pukstaavi was also opened in
Sastamala, which promotes Finnish book culture and reading.
Pukstaavi is a national museum that tells about the cultural history
and social significance of the Finnish book in a general sense. At
the beginning of 2013, the city of Sastamala declared itself the
book capital of Finland. From now on, the city has annually chosen
Kirjapää of the year. The first Kirjapääs of the year are authors
Mauri Kunnas 2013 and Marko Vesterbacka 2014, administrative
director Hannu Nikkilä 2015 and bookseller Sirkka-Liisa "Samu" Leino
2016.
Days of Old Literature
Sastamala Gregoriana
Häijän Market
Evangelical gospel celebrations have been organized in Sastamala in 2015
and 2022.
The mayor of Sastamala since 2013 is Jarkko Malmberg. From August
2021, Pertti Hakanen from the center will be the chairman of the city
board, and Jari Andersson from the coalition will be the chairman of the
city council.
The Sastamala city council has 43 members. The
distribution of seats after the 2021 municipal elections is as follows
by party:
Coalition, 11 seats
Center, 10 places
SDP, 8 seats
Basic Finns, 7 places
Left Alliance, 2 seats
Greens, 2 seats
Christian Democrats, 2 seats
RKP 1 place
Economic
In 2015,
there were 8,426 jobs in the municipality. Of them, 8.5 percent were in
primary production (agriculture, forestry, and fisheries), 63 percent in
services, and 27 percent in processing. The share of the unemployed in
the workforce was 12.3 percent.
Partnos, a building design
company, Teknikum, which manufactures rubber and plastic products, and
Vexve, which manufactures flap valves for district heating, pay the most
corporate tax.
Highway 11 between Tampere and Pori and highway 12 between Tampere
and Rauma pass through Sastamala. National road 44 runs from Kiika to
Kauhajoki via Kankaanpää. There are also numerous regional roads from
the city to Hämeenkyrö, Punkalaitume, Vesilahti, Nokia and Lavia.
The Tampere–Pori railway also passes through Sastamala. Trains stop
in the city at Vammala and Karku railway stations.
The nearest
airports to Sastamala are Tampere-Pirkkala Airport and Pori Airport.
Distances from the central drive
To former municipal centers
Kiikoinen 25 km
Lake Mouhijärvi 25 km
Suodenniemi 35 km
Äetsa
15 km
To other cities
Helsinki 190 km
Huittinen 25 km
Hämeenlinna 100 km
Kankaanpää 70 km
Nokia 35 km
Pori 75 km
Rauma 90 km
Tampere 50 km
Turku 115 km