Palosaari (Brandö), also known as Präntöö, is one of Vaasa’s best-known and most distinctive neighbourhoods. The area is known for its strong identity: people are proud to be Präntöö residents.
Palosaari is an old working-class district north of the city centre. It used to be an island, but due to land uplift the area is now part of the mainland. Palosaari has its own market square and church, which serve as important meeting places for the area. Palosaari Church is a stone building in the Jugend (Art Nouveau) style, completed in 1910 to a design by architect Alfred Wilhelm Stenfors.
Palosaari is also Vaasa’s most significant higher education hub. The University of Vaasa, Novia University of Applied Sciences and Vaasa University of Applied Sciences are located in the area. The campus is right by the sea and is a popular outdoor spot among the people of Vaasa.
There was once a major tar port on Palosaari. As a result of this historical fact, the name of the main building at the University of Vaasa is called Tervahovi (Tar Palace). The residential buildings on Palosaari partly consist of old but mostly renovated wooden houses. Close to the bay of Onkilahti there is a student housing area owned by The Student Housing Foundation in Vaasa – VOAS.