User:S.camara/Stockholm-Turku Mail Route

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Map of the postal route c. 1749

The postal route between Stockholm and Turku Dutch: Postroute Stockholm-Turku that later extended further east to Saint Petersburg, is a historical route that was established in the 17th century when a need arose for faster postal service in the Swedish Empire, which at the time included modern-day Finland.




The postal route was made official in 1638 under Queen Christina by order of Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna. This route followed the main paths of an already existing non-official postal route, which also served as a route for pilgrims. From its official establishment, Ålandish farmers were assigned to ensuring the security of the mail being delivered along the whole path as well as looking after the ships, horses, shelter and food for these 'postbodes'. People would be assigned at each segment based on what was considered necessary.

Oil painting of a postal boat stuck in an ice floe (J.A.G. Acke 1889)
The post office in New-Grisslehamn, built in 1756, after the old Grisslehamn including the post office burned down.
The former postal and customs building in Eckerö, built in 1828 by the Russian opressors.

The start of the route ran through part of Stockholm and onward to Grisslehamn. From there, the delivery went in a sort of relay race by special postal boat via the island of Signilskör to Eckerö in Åland. The postal boats were small, 6-8 meter long, open boats that often had to be rowed but were later equipped with sails. Since transport by sea was risky, especially during the winter, because the small boats could be blown off course by storms or get stuck on a sheet of ice. At times the boats had to be pulled over ice before they could resume sailing. If the sea was completely frozen, it was also possible to make the journey via hourse and sleigh. Because of the multitude of trips made along this route, people that sailed in these boats became hailed as heroes, and the percentage of widows was rather high.


Upon arriving at the village of Storby on Eckerö the mail was delivered across the main island of Åland by the castle Kastelholm to the easternmost point in Vårdö. From there people were taken in postal boats; to Kumlinge and travelling by Brändö and Kustavi until reaching the Finnish mainland. It was then possible to reach Turku and travel even further east.

In 1754 the whole village of Grisslehamn burned down. The village was rebuilt twenty kilometers to the north, as it made the journey somewhat shorter.

De postroute heden ten dage[edit]

Over the course of the 19th century the postal route lost its past prestige, due to the growing use of steamboats in that they could deliver all of the post at once by crossing the Eastern Sea. The first ship specifically designed with this goal in mind was the 'Postiljonen'. Often times it didn't turn out so well, because when a steamboat got stuck in the ice, it was too heavy to be pulled and the old postal boats had to be sent out. In the bitter winter of 1910-1911 the final delivery was made by postal boat.

Reconstructed historical postal boats.
Postal boats before the start in Grisslehamn.

The only time the old postal route is of any importance nowadays is thanks to tourism. Additionally, it's been steadily gaining historical appreciation. Along the original direction the mainland of Åland runs an accessible bike path: the route is clearly marked for people to follow. Since 1974 there has been a yearly post rowing regatta in June that is organized in replica postal boats between Eckerö and Grisslehamn, one year heading towards the east and the subsequent year returning in the western direction. In the event, all teams must deliver a bag with real mail. As many as forty teams of four members take part in the regatta. The record time stands at 3 hours and 18 minutes (2005).  However, it really isn't about competitive aspect as much as the social festivities, commemorating the history, the touristic element, and most of all, the safe delivery of the postal bags.

  • A few hundred kilometers to the north runs another historical postal route between the Swedish Holmöarna and the Finnish Svedjehman on the island Björkö (in the Korsholm municipality), 36 nautical miles (around 60km) over the Kvarken Sea Strait. Postal regattas are also held here yearly in June on the first Saturday after midsummer.
  • (in Swedish)Jan Andersson: Postvägen över Åland (1999), ISBN 9518946655.

    Engelse vertaling: (in English)The mail road across Åland, ISBN 9518946671

[[Category:Turku]] [[Category:History of the Åland Islands]] [[Category:Postal system]]

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