Nousiainen (Swedish: Nousis) is a mostly rural municipality in the inland of Finland Proper. This was where the first bishops of Finland resided.

Understand

The bishop seat of Finland is believed to have been here until 1229 or 1249, when it was moved to Turku. According to legend, the first bishop, Finland's national saint, Saint Henry, was buried here in 1156.

The municipality stretches a long way inland, to Kuhankuono in Kurjenrahka National Park, 20 km from the parish village. The village of Valpperi is halfway, connected to the centre by the small river Hirvijoki and Valpperintie along it. The south-west part, near the centre and Highway 8, is largely covered by fields, with minor woods, as is most of the area around Hirvijoki, while north-east of Valpperi, forest dominates.

Rantapiha by Savojärvi, a municipal recreational area in the village of Saksala, serves park visitors.

Get in

Nousiainen is 20 km north of Turku, between Masku and Mynämäki on E8 (Highway 8). The leg from Turku is motorway. The parish village lies 4 km east of the junction.

The main road through Nousiainen is road 2014, Valpperintie, changing names to Saksalantie in Valpperi and to Mynäjärventie in Saksala. Small roads connect from it to the roads of Yläne farther north-east. From the south-east, road 2010 leads from Säkyläntie near Lieto station on Highway 9 via Paattinen and Vahto to Valpperi.

The station on the Turku–Uusikaupunki railway is nowadays a community centre; reviving passenger traffic on the line has been discussed, but is in the blue as of 2023.

Nousiainen is easily reached by bike from Turku, along cycleways by smaller roads more or less following E8 (regional biking route 3) and from there to the parish village. The cycleway northward continues to Mynämäki, from where it connects to the northern branch of the Archipelago Trail and the EuroVelo EV 10 around the Baltic Sea (here on the leg between Turku and Uusikaupunki). From elsewhere you can use minor roads, with varying amounts of traffic. Keep to the right even on gravel roads, as speeds may be relatively high. If coming from Lieto station, you may want to take a detour via Arosuo to avoid Säkyläntie (high speeds and no cycleway).

See

St. Henry's Church in Nousiainen

• 1 Saint Henry's Church (Nousiainen Church), Kirkkotie 212, ☏ +358 44-431-8549. Services Su 10:00 and at special occasions, otherwise open by agreement. An important example of Finnish medieval church architecture. This was the site of the first bishop seat of Finland and saint Henry, regarded first bishop and patron saint of Finland, was buried here. The church was probably finished in the 1420s, at the site of earlier wooden churches. The bell tower was built 1759–1760. The rectory on the other side of the river has been on the same site since the 13th century, with the current main building from 1890.  
• 2 Nousiaisten kotiseutumuseo, Topoistentie 11 (Nousiainen), ☏ +358 40-551-6045 (Juha Saarinen). In summer: Su 12:00–15:00. Several 18th century houses. 

Itineraries

• Saint Henry's Way, ☏ +358 44-231-3547, pyhahenrik@gmail.com. A modern pilgrimage trail with medieval heritage. It leads to the church from Köyliö, where he was murdered according to the legend. St. Henry is regarded the national saint of Finland, although not formally recognized by the catholic church. The trail is marked and can be walked at any time, but there are also organized pilgrimages yearly, with a pilgrimage covering all the 140 km every third year. (updated Aug 2023)

Do

• 1 Rantapiha, Savojärventie 102, ☏ +358 500-935-960 (Saksalan pienviljelijäyhdistys). Sauna 11:00–20:00 during school holidays; beach 24 hr daily. Municipal recreation area by Savojärvi and Kurjenrahka National Park, run by the local smallholders' association. Beach, sauna, barbecue, small-scale camping, kiosk (Sa–Su). Rowing boats for hire. Sauna for rent off season. Free. 

Connect

• 1 Nousiaisten kirjasto, Moisiontie 17 (Nousiainen centre), ☏ +358 44-435-5355, riikka.uski@nousiainen.fi. M–Th 12:00–19:00 F 09:00–16:00. Library. Wi-Fi, public computer, printer. Also foreign newspapers and magazines available on the net. Exhibitions. 

Go next

Routes through Nousiainen

Pori ← Vakka-Suomi countryside (Mynämäki) ←

N  S

→ Turku countryside (Masku) → Turku