Old Rauma, also known as Vanha Rauma in Finnish and Gamla Raumo in Swedish, is the wooden part of the town of Rauma, Finland. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991 because of its special wooden buildings and the way the town was laid out in the Middle Ages. It is one of the few medieval towns in Finland.
The area of Old Rauma covers about 0.3 km², with around 600 buildings (including homes and smaller structures like sheds) and about 800 people living there. The oldest buildings were built in the 18th century, as two fires in 1640 and 1682 destroyed much of the town. However, the town center still keeps much of its medieval layout. Most wooden buildings are one story tall, though some older ones have basements. Homes are built along the main street, while other buildings, such as grain storage houses and sheds, are placed in narrow side streets. Most buildings are currently owned and lived in by private individuals, though those near the main streets and town square are often used for businesses. In the 18th century, the town of Rauma grew beyond Old Rauma, and increased ship trade led to the city becoming more modern.
Although Old Rauma was nearly destroyed by fires, a few medieval buildings and ruins remain. The Church of the Holy Cross, a Franciscan monastery church built in 1512, has medieval paintings and is a major attraction. Another church, the Church of the Holy Trinity, built in the 15th century, was destroyed in the 1640 fire. The only other ancient stone building is the Old Town Hall, constructed in 1776.
Other important places include the Kirsti House, a seaman’s home from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the Marela House, a shipowner’s home built in the 18th century but with a 19th-century front. Both are now museums.