Picturesque Red Shore Wooden Houses in Porvoo, Finland

Porvoo, Finland is famous for its scenic brick-coloured or red shore wooden houses. Very, very pretty! Stunning even during nightfall.

Porvoo Red Shore Houses
Information: Traveller’s Porvoo | City of Porvo

This is an excerpt from the Traveller’s Visit Porvoo website:

‘Red shore houses on the riverbank are one of the most photographed scenery in Porvoo. Red ochre paint was used to paint the shore houses in the late 18th century in honour of King Gustav III's arrival. All of the houses along his route were painted, in order to make them look more beautiful. The red ochre also helped protect the logs from wind and sun damage. Exotic fruits, wines and spices were brought to Porvoo, and the shore houses also served as intermediate storehouses for coffee and tobacco.

Most of the shore houses are used as private living quarters and storage space.’

A stroll along Porvoo River on the other side of the bank across the picturesque red shore houses is a must when visiting town. It is a very scenic part of Old Porvoo that has been historically and architecturally preserved, and very well maintained as well. These charming red shore houses have been proposed to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site and I hope the town gets this status very soon.

You can read my previous entry about Porvoo here as well: Getting my bearings around Old Porvoo and my discovery of Finnish Cider

Ah, the restaurant (Fryysarinranta) where I will have dinner after this stroll.

Storage house converted into a Doll and Toy Museum (Porvoo Lelu Museo).

This brave little girl showed me her snails. I do not know many little girls who are not afraid playing with slimy little creatures.

I will be having my coffee here at the boat as well =)

Some of these red houses function as residential/living quarters while others were converted into restaurants, a museum and a few remained as warehouses.

The Porvoo cathedral jutting out of Old Porvoo Towns' quaint skyline.

The scenery further ahead on the river. Kayaking and canoeing are popular activities here.

These residential houses are modern versions of the shore houses.

Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Porvoo (Uusimaa), Finland

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