Vita Björn Prison Museum

Vita Björn Prison Museum occupies a historic building with five cell rooms and living quarters for a guard and his family. The structure preserves original furnishings and the layout from its operating years.

The building was constructed in 1784 and functioned as a prison for nearly two centuries before closing in 1975. An addition with extra cells was built in 1839.

The rooms show how daily life unfolded behind bars and how attitudes toward prisoners shifted over time. Walking through reveals what confinement meant to those who experienced it.

The museum sits on Aland Island and is best reached by ferry from mainland Finland, with regular sailings during the visiting season. The site is open and easy to walk through, though some rooms have low doorways.

After closure, the building was restored in the 1980s using period-appropriate materials to recreate its original look. This made it Finland's first prison museum and demonstrates careful preservation work.

Location: Sund

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Opening Hours: May 2-September 15 Monday-Sunday,Holidays 10:00-17:00

GPS coordinates: 60.23141,20.08282

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:09