Raahe Tower Building Live Cam

History

Founded in 1649 by Governor Per Brahe the Younger under the name “Brahestad,” Raahe quickly emerged as a key maritime and trading hub on the Gulf of Bothnia. Its grid-patterned wooden streets—one of the best-preserved in Finland—reflect the urban planning ideals of the Swedish Empire. Early settlers were drawn by the rich forests and fertile farmland of North Ostrobothnia, establishing shipyards and sawmills that leveraged abundant timber resources. Timber exports, tar production, and fishing formed the backbone of Raahe’s economy through the 17th and 18th centuries, earning it the nickname “the Manchester of Finland” for its industrial vigor.