The Finnish Lakeland
One of Aalto's most admired works, this town hall was conceived as a 'fortress of democracy' and constructed between 1949 and 1952. Its sturdy brick tower…
Must-see attractions in The Finnish Lakeland
The Finnish Lakeland
Built directly on rock in the middle of the lake (now accessed via bridges), this heavily restored 15th-century fortification was constructed as a…
The Finnish Lakeland
'Lusto' is the Finnish word for a tree’s annual growth ring, and this well-curated and cleverly presented museum is all about forests and the growth of…
The Finnish Lakeland
Connected to Säynätsalo by bridges, peaceful Muuratsalo islet was the summer retreat of Alvar and Elissa Aalto. Aalto built his Experimental House – a…
The Finnish Lakeland
Finland’s only Orthodox convent is particularly lovely in early summer, when the many flowers in its beautifully tended gardens bloom. The order was…
The Finnish Lakeland
Finland’s only Orthodox monastery is idyllically located on an island in Juojävi. Visitors are free to roam the site and enter the churches. The first…
The Finnish Lakeland
Kerimäki may be small (pop 5000), but its Lutheran church certainly isn't. Built in 1847, the building was designed to accommodate 5000 and is commonly…
The Finnish Lakeland
A picturesque 19th-century timber parsonage estate 1.3km southwest of the city centre on the shore of Lake Saimaa, Kenkävero is now Mikkeli's most popular…
The Finnish Lakeland
On an island that was once a naval port, this museum housed in a handsome 16th-century granary recounts local history and the importance of water…
Kuopio
Even small hills have cachet in flat Finland, and Kuopio was so proud of Puijo that it was crowned with a tower. Views from the top of Puijon Torni are…
The Finnish Lakeland
The town's most famous son and the subject of this museum was a giant of 20th-century architecture. Schooled in Jyväskylä, Aalto opened his first offices…
Kuopio
This block of 11 wooden townhouses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries includes several period-furnished homes representing family life between 1800…
The Finnish Lakeland
This wonderfully gnarled Unesco-listed wooden church is located in Petäjävesi, 35km west of Jyväskylä. Finished in 1765, it’s a marvellous example of 18th…
The Finnish Lakeland
During the ice age, formations similar to this 7km-long sand ridge were created all over Finland. Because it crosses a large lake, it’s always been an…
Kuopio
Occupying an old bank building in the centre of town, this museum focuses on Finnish art created from the late 19th century to present times. Look out for…
Kuopio
In a castle-like art-nouveau mansion, this museum has a wide scope. The top two floors are devoted to cultural history, but the real highlight is the…
Kuopio
The views from the top of the 75m Puijon Torni are very impressive; the vast perspectives of lakes and forests represent a sort of idealised Finnish vista…
The Finnish Lakeland
This scenic national park consists of Haukivesi Lake and hundreds of uninhabited islands; the most activity takes place on the largest island, Linnansaari…
Suomen Ortodoksinen Kirkkomuseo
Kuopio
Over 800 religious icons and 4000 textiles, along with documents, maps, drawings and photographs depicting Orthodox history in Finland, are displayed…
The Finnish Lakeland
Adjacent to the Alvar Aalto Museo and also designed by him, this museum building was temporarily closed for a major restoration when we last visited. When…
Administrative and Cultural Centre
The Finnish Lakeland
Jyväskylä's municipal headquarters are located in the block bounded by Vapaudenkatu, Kilpisenkatu and Hannikaisenkatu. The complex includes three…
The Finnish Lakeland
Northeast of Linnansaari National Park, Kolovesi is less-trafficked in summer. Park information is available at the nature information hut in Enonkoski.
Kuopio
This photographic centre is dedicated to Victor Barsokevitsch, one of the pioneers of Finnish photography. It is best known for temporary international…
The Finnish Lakeland
Showcasing the National Costume Centre, which includes regional dress from around Finland, this handicrafts museum has a small permanent collection and…
The Finnish Lakeland
The Jalkaväkimuseo is one of the largest military museums in Finland, with 10 exhibition rooms in two 19th-century timber army barracks. These are…
The Finnish Lakeland
This extraordinary collection of mechanical musical instruments ranges from a ghostly keyboard-tinkling Steinway to a robotic violinist to a full-scale…
The Finnish Lakeland
This is one of many buildings in Jyväskylä designed by its famous son, Alvar Aalto. Built between 1924 and 25, its a not particularly successful Italian…
The Finnish Lakeland
Päämajamuseo was Mannerheim’s office and the base of the Finnish armed forces during WWII and evokes this period of Finland's history well.
The Finnish Lakeland
In one of Jyväskylä's garden suburbs, this apartment block was designed by Alvar Aalto and built in 1962.
Kuopio
Kuopio's 19th-century cathedral is an unattractive stone structure located in the middle of town.
