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Näsinneula Observation Tower
The 168m-high Näsinneula Observation Tower is in the Särkänniemi amusement park. This is the tallest such tower in these northern lands and it alone is worth the visit, with spectacular views of the city and surrounding lakes. There’s a revolving restaurant near the top.
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Carlsro Museum
About 5km north of town, the summer villa of yet another cashed-up merchant has become Carlsro Museum. If the collection of over 11,000 toys, bric-a-brac and other items from around the area doesn’t impress, then there’s always a wander in the idyllic gardens from the tsarist era.
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Sankt Lars Kyrka
The village of Kyrkoby, about 5km east of Storby on the road to Mariehamn, was named for the 13th-century Sankt Lars Kyrka. It’s an attractive church with a 14th-century Madonna sculpture and rustic murals. The altar painting is a 19th-century work depicting a Magdalene penitent.
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Kolovesi National Park
Northeast of Linnansaari, less-trafficked Kolovesi covers several islands, which feature well-preserved pine forests. There are high hills, rocky cliffs and caves, and prehistoric rock paintings dating back 5000 years. Saimaa seals, as well as otters and eagle owls, call Kolovesi h
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Enontekiö Church
In the centre of Hetta is the slender-spired Enontekiö church , built in 1952 with the financial help of American churches. The organ was a gift from Germany. The church has an altar mosaic picturing Christ blessing Lapland and its people (and reindeer). Opening hours aren’t reliab
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Pohjan Kruunu
The Aurora House, 11km southeast of Sodankylä (take the Kemijärvi road, then turn right towards the airport and keep going) has a half-hour aurora borealis audiovisual show projected on the ceiling of a kota -style building (traditional dwelling resembling a tepee or wigwam).
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Lutheran Church
Dating from 1896, the massive brick Lutheran Church is the largest in North Karelia, with around 2300 seats. You’ll know it by its florid cross. Inside there are several models of Nurmes’ previous wooden churches that burnt down, hence earning this part of town the name Ash Village
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Skierri
This nature centre at the eastern end of town provides information about Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and the Enontekiö region. There’s a smart exhibition on the Sámi and their nomadic history, lots of audiovisuals available, as well as nature displays on the park and a cafe.
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St Nicholas Church
St Nicholas Church was founded in the 13th century. There are beautiful frescoes over the altar, but most striking is the Dance of Death frieze opposite the entrance door. In this frieze, grinning Reapers escort various members of society to the afterlife; all are equal in death.
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Alvar Aalto Buildings
Aalto’s list includes the university’s main buildings and the City Theatre . On the corner of Kauppakatu and Väinönkatu is the old Workers Club Building (1925), an early work with Renaissance-inspired features such as columns and a Palladian balcony; downstairs is now a karaoke pub
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Museum Ship Pommern
Anchored just behind the Sjöfartsmuseum, this beautifully preserved four-masted merchant barque was built in 1903 in Glasgow, Scotland. The ship once carried tonnes of cargo and a 26-man crew on the trade route between Australia and England. Its record run was a speedy 110 days.
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Hermanni Winery
Once you’ve discovered your favourite wines at the Hermanni Wine Tower, visit the winery itself (Finlands oldest, established in 1989) to buy bottles and chat about the fascinating wine-making process. You’ll need to visit an Alko liquor shop if you want the strongest apple and hon
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Jalokivigalleria
The Gemstone Gallery, in an old seaside customs house, has a notable collection of more than 3000 beautiful, rare stones and jewellery. Sheets in various languages guide you in an offbeat manner around the exhibits, which include replicas of famous diamonds and a solid dose of Finn
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South Karelian Museum
Focusing on the history of Lappeenranta – and of its two sister towns, Käkisalmi (Priozersk) and Vyborg, lost across the Russian border in 1939, this museum is a source of much nostalgia, with older Finns sometimes moved to tears by how effectively its exhibits bring Vyborg back to
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Sailor’s Home Museum
This museum on Pikisaari belonged to a local sailor. Built in 1737, it is the oldest house in Oulu and was transferred here from the town centre in 1983. The wallpaper and extendable bed are typical of 19th-century Finnish homes. Entrance is free with entry to the Pohjois Pohjanmaa
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Rovaniemen Taidemuseo
This gallery in an old brick truck depot has a wide collection of contemporary Finnish art that it rotates in its clean white exhibition space. A concert hall here has regular events. Admission’s free on Saturday and it’s also open Monday from December to early January and from Jun
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Jyväskylä Art Museum
The Jyväskylä Art Museum houses temporary exhibitions of modern art and sculpture, often arranged by the active local artists’ association. This, the main gallery, is complemented by two other exhibition spaces nearby, all entered on the same ticket. Don’t miss the astonishingly gr
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Oulun Tuomiokirkko
Oulu’s imposing cathedral was built in 1777 but then came the great fire of 1822, which severely damaged the structure. Tireless architect CL Engel rebuilt it in empire style, adding a dome and Renaissance-style vaulting, which impart a powerful airiness to the fairly unadorned int
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Linnansaari National Park
This scenic national park consists of Haukivesi lake and hundreds of uninhabited islands; the main activity centres around the largest island, Linnansaari, which has marked hiking (5km to 7km) and nature trails (2km). As well as the seal population, rare birds, including ospreys, c
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Rovaniemen Kirkko
Completed in 1950, this church replaced the one destroyed during WWII. The impressively large fresco behind the altar depicts a Christ figure emerging from Lappish scenery. A work of Lennart Segerstråle, it has two sides, one populated by the faithful, the other by brawling drunkar
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