Aalto’s Lakeland impressions

1230 – 1300  Arrival to Jyväskylä Region by bus, train or car

1300 – 1415 Lunch in restaurant Harmooni.  Other options available on request.

Restaurant Harmooni is a charming restaurant in an art nouveau-style building that used to be a harmonium factory in Jyväskylä city centre.

1430 Check in to Hotel hotel option available on request.

Hotel Verso lives in the urban beat of city. The hotel and its staff cherish life-enriching experiences, spontaneous encounters, passing moments. Hotel Verso is unique and always free to try something new.

Afternoon

• Free time to get to know the town on your own:
• Sauna Restaurant Viilu, have a hot or cold drink, try the pastries, ice-cream, or even the Viilu sauna experience (online bookings).
• Nemo Propheta In Patria (Aalto, 1954-55), a boat designed by Alvar Aalto, showcased in the Jyväskyläharbour next to the Sauna restaurant Viilu
• Craft Museum of Finland, take a journey in time and through the many faces of crafts, see the national costumes in the permanent exhibitions, and explore the temporary exhibitions that showcase the many different perspectives to handicrafts.
• Toivola Old Courtyard, Jyväskylä’s most beautiful courtyard with museums, boutiques and shops, café and restaurants

Evening dinner in Restaurant Paja at Toivola Old Courtyard, or summer only (June-August), Dinner Cruise to the Lake Päijänne (various option).

Breakfast

0945 Full day guided tour to Jyväskylä and its surroundings. In the morning you will see Aalto’s diverse heritage in Jyväskylä centre:

• Aalto2 Museum Centre – Museum of Central Finland (Aalto, 1957–61, 1991) building and Alvar Aalto Museum (Aalto 1971–73), introduction to Alvar Aalto, who was this most important Finnish Architect.
• University of Jyväskylä Campus (Aalto 1952-71) including: the main building, a library, cafeteria and conference buildings, a residential hall, two gyms, a swimming pool, a staff residence, and a heating plant.

1200 Lunch in restaurant Lozzi in Philologica building (Aalto 1954), in Aalto Café in Aalto2 Museum Centre, or other during the morning tour.

1300 After lunch the tour continues in the Jyväskylä centre to see one of Aalto’s first public buildings and the Jyväskylä Administrative block including the City Theatre. Most of these buildings can only be viewed outside.

• Jyväskylä workers’ club (Aalto, 1924–25)
• Defence corps building (Aalto, 1926–29) (today known as Valtiontalo)
• Central police station (Aalto, 1970) (today known as Tietotalo)
• Construction office (Aalto, 1975-78)
• Jyväskylä City Theatre (Aalto, 1964–82)

1400 Later in the afternoon, the guided tour will take you by bus to Aalto’s buildings outside Jyväskylä centre including:

• Muurame Church (Aalto, 1926–29)
• Säynätsalo Town Hall (Aalto, 1949–52) which is considered on of the most important Aalto’s buildings as it is a complete artwork where Aalto designed everything including door handles, lightings and furniture.

1600 Self-funded coffee break in Town Hall Café and free time to explore the Town Hall building.

All year round:

1730 Back to hotel

1900  Dinner in Kuokkalan Kartano mansion restaurant

The Kuokkalan Kartano mansion restaurant is one of the most exciting restaurants in Jyväskylä. This valuable and protected mansion offers an unforgettable restaurant experience with uncompromising quality with first-class service.

Summer only (June-August):

1645 – 1830 Muuratsalo Experimental House (Aalto, 1952-54) where Aalto was able to experiment with various materials, techniques, forms and dimensions. He also intended to try solar heating.

1900 Back to hotel

2000 Dinner in restaurant Kuokkalan Kartano manor

Breakfast and check-out

1000 Drive to Petäjävesi Old Wooden Church, an UNESCO World heritage site

The last day takes you on a journey in time back to the 1700s as you will hear stories about how the people in Finland lived over 200 years ago as you will visit on of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Finland, the Petäjävesi Old Wooden Church.

1045 Guided visit to the Petäjävesi Old Wooden Church (Jaakko Klemetinpoika Leppänen, 1763–65)

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Petäjävesi Old Church tells the story of the Finnish people’s everyday life over four centuries. Built by Central Finland’s land-owning peasants in 1763–65 with their masterful carving skills, the Old Church has been the site of the most profound moments of life.

1130 Lunch in Lemettilä Farm or another local farmhouse.

1245 Leaving for Jyväskylä to get to Jyväskylä for the Train around 1400hrs.