Every design for Kristinestad

Kristinestad faces the Bothnian Sea on Finland's west coast, its old centre built on Koppö island, where Per Brahe chartered the town and named it after Queen Christina of Sweden. More than half of its territory is open sea, and inland the parish follows the rivers through Lapväärtti and Tjöck, where farmers lived long before there was a town at all.

Walk the grid of low wooden houses and narrow alleys and the pace drops by itself; it is no accident that this became Finland's first Cittaslow town. The street plan drawn up at Brahe's request is still largely in use, the wooden Ulrika Eleonora church stands on its hill, and Lebellska köpmansgården keeps the only visible baroque interior in Finland. In the age of sail Kristinestad had one of the largest merchant fleets in the country, and the Kristiinankaupungin merimuseo, the Sjöfartsmuseets Sjöfartsmagasin and the two old customs houses, Läntinen Tullitupa and Pohjoinen Tullitupa, still tell that story.

If you know Kristinestad, you know Kissanpiiskaajankuja, the lane whose name translates as Cat Whipper's Alley, and you know that locally the town is simply Kristiina. Put it on and carry that grid of streets with you.