Old Raahe (Vanha Raahe) is one of the best preserved wooden towns in Finland and is a unique example of the Finnish tradition of building towns of wood. In 1977 Old Raahe became a preservation area. Since then over one hundred buildings have been renovated. Currently there are about 350 preserved buildings in Old Raahe. Old Raahe is not an open-air museum but a living part of the town. It is an excellent example of the past millennium construction history and the living conditions through the centuries up to the present day.
Pekkatori square is the most important entity included in the town plan drawn by Gustaf Odenwall in 1811 after the fire of Raahe.
It was to become an administrative and trading centre. Plots around the square were given to the most notable burghers of the town, i.e. the aldermen, merchants and shipowners.
A new town hall was planned to be built on the plot of the southwest corner of the square, instead the mansion of Gustav Brunow was purchased from his estate by the Town of Raahe.
The centre of the square has a statue of Count Per Brahe, Queen Kristina’s governor general, made by Walter Runeberg. The statue was erected in 1888 and looks towards the sea.