-
Lasimuseo
Behind the large shop and restaurant, a charming craft village includes the Lasimuseo , whose two levels cover the history of the Iittala glassworks as well as the glass-making process, with pieces from most of the firm’s famous ranges on display. Free tours of the nearby factory l
-
Convent Church
Medieval Naantali grew up around the Catholic Convent of the Order of Saint Birgitta, which was dissolved after the 1527 Reformation. Towering above the harbour, the massive Convent Church, completed in 1462, is all that remains; its baroque stone tower dates from 1797. Archaeologi
-
Svartholma Sea Fortress
Situated 10km offshore from Loviisa, this four-bastion sea fortress was built in 1748 to protect against further Russian invasion after Swedish losses in eastern Finland. It lasted until the Crimean War (1853–56) when the British largely destroyed it, but it has been reconstructed.
-
Louhisaari Manor
The village of Askainen, 30km northwest of Turku, has stunning Louhisaari Manor . This lavishly decorated home was once owned by the Dutch Fleming family before being purchased by the Mannerheim family. It’s the birthplace of Finland’s greatest military leader and president, Marsha
-
Taistelijan Talo
The striking wooden Taistelijan Talo was designed by Joensuu architect Erkki Helasvuo in 1988 to symbolise the meeting of East and West. On the ground floor, the restaurant (buffet €17) offers an excellent all-day Karelian buffet. The WWII museum downstairs has multimedia exhibits,
-
Castle
The castle is 14km east of Ekenäs, and about 2km west of the wonderfully named village of Snappertuna. It’s signposted Slottsruiner/Linnanrauniot off the main road; buy your tickets at the cafe. There’s not a lot of explanatory material in English, but it’s great to climb up and do
-
Suomen Urheilumuseo
This sports museum, in the 1952 Olympic Stadium , houses Finland’s sporting hall of fame including the triumphs of runner Paavo Nurmi and ski-jumper Matti Nykänen. Good simulations let you compete in the 200m against champions and there’s an exhibition about pesäpallo, Finland’s ba
-
Ehrensvärd
Perhaps the most interesting of the islands museums, this was once the home of Augustin Ehrensvärd, the man responsible for designing and running the fortress. An attractive 18th-century house, it holds numerous portraits, prints and models giving an insight into daily life on the
-
Lusto Forest Museum
Lusto is dedicated to Finnish forests and forestry and is a good visit, with plenty of information in English. Displays cover hunting, cottage culture, and world global forest resources; a new section has a kid-pleasing range of machinery and chainsaws. More peaceable is the lakesc
-
Urho Kekkosen Museo
Near the bridge connecting Seurasaari with the mainland, this museum gives a glimpse into the life of Finland’s greatest president. A guided tour wanders through the magnificent villa and its surrounding park, and peeks into the traditional sauna that hosted diplomatic chinwags wit
-
Puijo
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 very impressive; the vast perspectives of lakes and forests represent a sort of idealised Finnish vista. Atop is a revolving resta
-
Uspenskin Katedraali
Facing the Lutheran cathedral, the eye-catching red-brick Uspenski Cathedral stands on nearby Katajanokka island. The two buildings face off high above the city like two queens on a theological chessboard. Built as a Russian Orthodox church in 1868, it features classic onion-topped
-
Hollolan Kirkko
On the shores of Vesijärvi, the large Hollola church , 17km northwest of Lahti, was once the heart of this parish, before Lahti grew up. It’s an elegant late-15th-century structure with steep gables; the belltower was designed by the indefatigable Carl Engel in the 19th century. Mo
-
Lighthouse
Bengtskär is the southernmost inhabited island of Finland, which is 25km from Hanko and famous for its lighthouse . It was built in 1906 to protect ships from the dangerous waters of the archipelago and given the perilous nature of the waters it had to be 52m high, making it Scandi
-
Museum of Central Finland
The Museum of Central Finland , adjacent to the Alvar Aalto Museum and designed by Aalto, sees few visitors. A pity, for it’s a well-presented display. The main exhibition is an attractive overview of rural life in central Finland from prehistoric times onwards. There’s an ancient
-
Katajanokka
Just east of the kauppatori, this island is divided from the mainland by a narrow canal and makes for an enjoyable stroll. It’s a paradise of upmarket Jugendstil (art nouveau) residential buildings with extravagant turrets and curious carvings galore. While the south side of the i
-
Muumimaailma
Crossing the bridge from the Old Town to Kailo island takes you into the delightful world of the Moomins . The focus is on hands-on activities and exploration, not rides; littlies love the costumed characters wandering through the Moominhouse, Snork’s Workshop (where they can help
-
Paltaniemen kuvakirkko
Paltaniemis enchantingly weathered wooden church was built in 1726, and has some of Finland’s most interesting church paintings; rustic 18th-century works full of life and colour that enliven the roof and walls. Above the entrance, symbolically representing the dangers of life outs
-
Säynätsalo Town Hall
The large Säynätsalo Town Hall is on an island 10km southeast of Jyväskylä. It’s one of Aalto’s most famous works, the architect having won an international competition in 1949 to design it. The sturdy tower, brick steps and dim light of this ‘fortress of democracy’ recall a castle
-
Säynätsalon Kunnantalo
Säynätsalo town hall, one of Aaltos most famous works, is on an island southeast of Jyväskylä. The sturdy brick tower of this ‘fortress of democracy’ recalls a castle, but the grassy patio bathes the interior with light and reflects a relationship with nature that is present in muc
Total
506 -travel
FirstPage PreviousPage NextPage LastPage CurrentPage:
23/26 20-travel/Page GoTo Page:
