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
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The Finnish Lakeland
Showcasing the National Costume Centre, which includes regional dress from around Finland, this handicrafts museum has a small permanent collection and…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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.
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The Finnish Lakeland
In one of Jyväskylä's garden suburbs, this apartment block was designed by Alvar Aalto and built in 1962.
