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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
