Högsåra – easy camping and imperial history

If you are looking for an easy-to-reach destination for a camping trip in the archipelago, Högsåra is the perfect island for that. It is not only easy to reach but it also has a picturesque archipelago village with a fascinating history and most important, an excellent camping area. 

Högsåra village

There is a lot to see and do, Högsåra has cafés, beaches, rental saunas, and a museum.

The island has been inhabited since the 15th century. Nowadays Högsåra has about 50 year-round residents. In the 18th century, Högsåra was one of the largest pilot stations in Finland. To this day, most of the island’s facilities are old pilot farms that have belonged to the same families for centuries.

The farms have been built around a bay forming an idyllic village view. It is easy to get around the island on its charming village roads. It feels like stepping back in time to an old country village.

End of May – beginning of June syrens are blooming and at then the whole side of the road in the left picture is full of syren blooming. A beautiful time to visit Högsåra.

The locals encourage you not to take the car with you to the island. The distances are short and hey, what’s the rush anyway!

Camping In Högsåra’s Sand Bay

The campground is about 2.3 km from the ferry port, on the western side of the island (no 18) on a bay called Sandviken (Sand Bay).

It is an easy walk along the roads, but it is also possible to drive there. There’s a parking space next to the camping area. Note that it is not advisable to take the car to the island, especially during the summer peak season.

Högsåra’s map

Camping ground

As the name suggests, the camping area is right next to a sandy beach and the entire soil is sand-based. There are plenty of spaces to set up a tent and plenty of trees to set up a hammock.

I have often been there hammocking, I love it when I can see the sea from my hammock. It is also easy to reach the beach with a kayak.

There is a fire pit, a table, toilet, and a woodshed, which is usually full of firewood, in the area. 

One thing I like about this campground is that it is facing west. I love watching the sunsets and here I can see them from the hammock. Sometimes you get lucky and get to experience magnificent sunsets, like in the pictures below.

One of the island’s windmills is located close to the camping area. You can hear the humming of it at the camping place, but it is not disturbing.

Things To Do In Högsåra

Visit The Two Cafés

Farmors Café (meaning Grandma’s Café) is famous and popular and (without exaggeration) thousands of people visit there every summer. Therefore, it is worth making a reservation during the busy summer season. The café is set up in an old farmhouse and is known for its delicious pastries and dishes and its idyllic courtyard, where children can admire bunnies and sheep.

Another café, Rumpan Bar is located on the shore of the village bay, it is located on a pier. In addition, there is a beach next to it, so those liking the sea view are guaranteed to enjoy. Next to the café, you can go on a trail that leads to an old pilot hut. A stunning seascape opens from the hut.

Learn The History Of Högsåra In Jungfrusund Museum

With its exhibitions, the museum wants to show the history of the village, mainly considering Högsåra’s strategic location in the Archipelago Sea in times of peace and war. The museum has exhibits on piloting, buoy-making, Imperial visits, boarding house operations, and various special themes. A small beach hut belonging to Serafina Lindblad known as Kejsar-Fina, and a rowing boat can be seen right next to the museum.

Go And See The Windmills

Three wind turbines were erected on Högsåra in 2007, producing clean energy primarily for Högsåra, and the close-by Kasnäs and Dalsbruk. The turbines are named after three of the village’s workhorses: Ilo, Frej, and Flora.

The wind turbines are placed on a high cliff Blockberget. During the Winter War (1939-40) Finnish Women Aid Foundation’s volunteers were monitoring on those cliffs for Russian bombers, who were on their way to Turku. 

Fascinating Imperial History

The bay on the northern side of the island is called Emperor’s Bay. There is a reason why.

After the war of 1808-09, Finland was subordinated to the Russian Empire as an Imperial Grand Principality. This relationship lasted until the Russian Revolution of 1917 when Finland became independent.

During the period as a Grand Principality, the Russian imperial families stayed several times for long periods in Finland. From time to time, the emperors undertook long journeys within Finland with their vessel s/s Tsarevna. 

The imperial couple Alexander the III and Maria Feodorovna, visited the Finnish archipelago from 1884 every summer, except for 1892. They sailed along the southern Finnish coast as far as Åland.

In 1885, the emperor’s family visited Högsåra for the first time. They visited Högsåra a total of 14 times over nine summers.  Approximately 500 people belonged to their travel party, both crew and servants. 

Day-To-Day Living With The Emperor

During the imperial visits, the local population took the opportunity to offer their products to the Russians. People came out in boats and gave fish, berries, milk, etc. The children gathered the Empress’s favorite flowers, cornflowers.

The emperor’s family went walking to the village and according to stories they also visited the residents of Högsåra at their homes. Kejsar-fina came to be a personal friend of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Maria Feodorovna was originally Danish, so she could understand Swedish.

Alexander III liked simplicity. He kept away from parties and etiquette. He was an avid fisherman and music lover. Maybe that explains his fondness for Högsåra. He had promised that Russia would not get into war during his reign, which they didn’t.

Russians Introduced The Bikes To The Villagers

The Russians also used the bay to anchor their battleships. There could have been 1000 men on the ships at the same time on the little bay. The fact that these sometimes long visits are completely unknown in Finnish history is that the place had a cover name “Tudérssund” which wasn’t associated with Högsåra.

The Russians were the first to bring bicycles ashore and amazed the locals with their rapid rampage on the village roads. The Russians often invited little boys to adventurous rides that stuck in their memory forever. The young marines were said to have always been cheerful and kind. 

Visiting the peaceful sandy beach of the Emperor’s Bay now, it is difficult, though fascinating, to imagine the bustle that has been there during those imperial visits. Today there’s a guest marina with rental saunas and a little kiosk. You can find the Jungfrusund museum on the bay, as well as Fina’s fishing hut.

Source of the story: högsåra.eu

The Story Of Kejsar-Fina

Helena Serafina (Fina) Lindblad (12 December 1834 — 1 September 1925) was a single woman who lived all her life at Högsåra in a small cabin near Ramsvik, next to Emperor’s Bay, and made a living from fishing.

She gained notoriety when she made friends with the Russian Emperor Alexander III, Empress Maria Feodorovna, and the children of the family. 

One day the emperor was walking on the beach in civilian clothes and Serafina, unaware of who he was, ordered him to help her lift the heavy fish sump from the water. Serafina noticed her mistake and was afraid that the emperor would punish her for this disrespect. 

Before long, however, the emperor invited Serafina aboard to enjoy food and treats in the saloon of the imperial vessel. After this event, Serafina received the nickname Kejsar-Fina (meaning Emperor-Fina). 

According to the oral tradition at Högsåra, this event became the prelude to a closer acquaintance between the emperor, his crew, and Fina.

Fina supplied fish to the imperial galley, gave advice on the best fishing spots, obtained small gifts from the Empress, and received Christmas cards from the Imperial family. 

Source of the story: högsåra.eu

How To Get To Högsåra

Ferry port: Svartnäs, Kemiönsaari
Route: Högsåra route
Travel time: 10 minutes
Turku-Svartnäs by car: about 1 hour 15 minutes – 1.5 hours
Bus connection: yes
Parking: yes
Waiting room and toilet: no

Timetables

Svartnäs-Högsåra ferry
Bus Turku-Kasnäs

Ferry

Högsåra ferry is marked purple on the map. You don’t have to book the ferry.

Bus connection: There is a bus stop close to Svartnäs junction. The sign there says Högsåra 3, but it’s 1.2 km to the ferry port. The junction and Svartnäs road are marked in the map below.

Accommodation

Camping
Villa Cecilia
By Villan (reservations: Lotta(at)byvillan.net)

Ferry guide

Other camping spots in the archipelago