When Västervik was founded at its current location in 1433 by Eric of Pomerania, the inhabitants were granted four tax-free years, the first of which was to build a church. Services were held here for nearly 500 years, with the last high mass on the Feast of Christ the King (Domssöndagen) in 1905. The new church, St Peter's, was consecrated on the first Advent of the same year. Since then, St Gertrud's was used for various purposes, including for grain storage during the First World War. Eventually, the idea to restore the church as a place of worship emerged, and St Gertrud's was re-consecrated on 18th June 1933. The church's original tower, destroyed by lightning during a service in 1762, was replaced in the 1780s by the current one, designed by the renowned architect Carl-Fredrik Adelcratz. Among the church's many valuable artefacts is a Wistenius organ from 1743, considered one of Sweden's most precious organs.

Learn about prehistoric cave dwellers at this fascinating indoor museum & outdoor park. Tour an underground cave and admire replicas of Europe's most famous cave paintings. Meet some of the animals featured in the art and participate in activities to learn more about how cave dwellers made their living.

Whether it's cycling or a relaxing picnic you are after, the city's only, 146-hectare country park is a scenic location for any outdoor programme. Beyond the treasures of nature — such as the popular Highland cattle — the park also houses the Pollok House and the Burrell Collection with their impressive art collections.

To the west of Aviles stretches the Costa Verde, a long stretch of rugged cliffs, sandy bays and deep river estuaries. Cudillero, the closest village to the airport, has a good selection of places to eat and drink, all crammed together around a small fishing harbour. Further west, Luarca is another tranquil and attractive fishing port.