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Punkaharju
During the Ice Age, formations similar to this 7km-long sand ridge were created all over the country. Because it crosses a large lake, it’s always been an important travel route. Short sections of the original unsealed road along the ridgetop remain – once part of a route to Russia
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Alvar Aalto Museo
Alvar Aalto, a giant of 20th-century architecture, was schooled in Jyväskylä, opened his first offices here and spent his summers in nearby Muuratsalo. The city has dozens of Aalto buildings, but stop first at one of his last creations, this museum in the university area. It chroni
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Post och Tullhuset
Designed by German architect CL Engel, today Storby’s Post & Customs House is a hub for local artists, with exhibitions, artisan shops and a terrific cafe . The grand building was completed in 1828, during the era of Tsar Alexander I of Russia as a show of might to Sweden (as Å
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Ranua Zoo
Little Ranua is famous for its excellent zoo, focused almost entirely on Finnish animals, although there are also polar bears and musk oxen. A boardwalk runs past all the creatures, which include minks and stoats, impressive owls and eagles, wild reindeer, elk, a big bear paddock (
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Sibelius Park
At lovely Sibelius Park youll find a steel monument to the great Finnish composer. The organlike cluster of steel pipes is said to represent the forest. This kinetic modern sculpture was created by artist Eila Hiltunen in 1967 to honor Finlands most famous composer, Jean Sibelius.
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Turun Linna
Founded in 1280 at the mouth of the Aurajoki, mammoth Turku Castle is easily Finland’s largest. Highlights include two dungeons and sumptuous banqueting halls, as well as a fascinating historical museum of medieval Turku in the castle’s Old Bailey. Models depict the castles growth
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Parppeinvaara
Karelian traditions are celebrated at this little Bardic village, 2km south of Ilomantsi. Its named for bard and kantele player Jaakko Parppei (1792–1885), whose songs inspired the Kalevala epic. Listen to the harpsichord-like sounds of this local stringed instrument at the small c
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Forum Marinum
Partly housed in an old granary, this excellent maritime museum offers a comprehensive look at ships and shipping, from scale models to full-sized vessels. Anchored outside is a small fleet of museum ships , which you can climb aboard. The mine-layer Keihässalmi and the corvette Ka
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Kansallismuseo
The impressive National Museum, built in National Romantic style in 1916, looks a bit like a Gothic church with its heavy stonework and tall square tower. This is Finland’s premier historical museum and is divided into rooms covering different periods of Finnish history, including
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Kastelholms Slott
One of Åland’s premier sights is this breathtaking 14th-century castle on a picturesque little inlet (signposted off Rd 2). The keep towers are 15m high in parts, with walls of 3m-thick red granite: it’s easy to see how it would once have ruled over Åland. Exhibits showcase the cas
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Helsingin Kaupunginmuseo
A group of small museums scattered around the city centre constitute this city museum: all have free entry and focus on an aspect of the city’s past or present through permanent and temporary exhibitions. The must-see of the bunch is the main museum, just off Senaatintori. Its exce
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Muuratsalon Koetalo
Peaceful Muuratsalo islet, connected to Säynätsalo by bridges, was Aalto’s summer retreat. On Päijänne’s shores he built his Experimental House , a must-see for Aalto lovers, but pricey if you’re not. Entrance is by guided tour pre-arranged by phone or email (the Alvar Aalto Museo
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Kerimäen Iso Kirkko
Finland has many notable churches, but few impose like Kerimäki’s – the largest wooden church in the world. Built in 1847, it was designed to accommodate 5000 churchgoers. The oversized church was no mistake, but was deliberately inflated from original plans by overexcited locals.
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Bomarsund
Following the war of 1808–09, Russia began building this major military structure as its westernmost defence against the Swedes. In 1854 the fortress was still incomplete when the Crimean War began and a French-British naval force bombarded it heavily from the sea. Within two days
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Valamo
Finland’s only Orthodox monastery is a great visit. Monks and novices, almost a thousand strong a century ago, can now be counted on one hand, but the complex in general is thriving. Visitors are free to roam and enter the churches. The first was made by connecting two sheds; the r
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Carelicum
Themed displays – on the region’s prehistory, its war-torn past, the Karelian evacuation, the importance of the sauna etc – cover both sides of the present-day border at this excellent museum.
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Tietomaa
This huge, excellent science museum can occupy kids for the best part of a day with a giant IMAX screen, hands-on interactive exhibits on planets and the human body, and an observation tower. There’s a yearly mega-exhibition that’s the focal point.
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Tytyrin Kaivosmuseo
A funicular takes you 80m down into the earth at this authentic working limestone mine 500m north of the town centre. Visits culminates in a sound-and-light presentation looking into an awesomely large quarried cavern. Book tours (available in English) through the tourist office.
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Juminkeko
If you are interested in the Kalevala or Karelian culture, pay a visit to this excellent resource centre, a beautiful building made using traditional methods and modern styling. The fantastic staff can tell you anything you wish to know; there are also three to four detailed exhibi
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Amurin Työläismuseokortteli
An entire block of 19th-century wooden houses, including 32 apartments, a bakery, a shoemaker, two general shops and a cafe, is preserved here. It’s one of the most realistic house-museums in Finland and entertaining backstories (English translation available) give plenty of histor
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