Monuments to visit Western Finland Province

At the very top of the tower, you'll have a superb panoramic view! After taking the elevator to the top of the 122-meter tower, feel free to climb a little and take the steep stairs to the tower's terrace. From here, the view is unobstructed over Tampere, a highly industrial city seen from above. To reward you for your climb, a café welcomes you on the first floor with hot drinks and delicious doughnuts.

Magnificent summer villa built in 1939 by the famous Alvar Aalto for Mayor and Harry Gullichsen, a cut of industrialists passionate about art. Progressive and without prejudice, they were interested in modernist abstract art and utopian ideology. Alvar Aalto then had carte blanche to experiment without any restrictions and made sure that the construction would blend completely into nature. The interior of the villa was designed by Aino Aalto and now houses priceless works of art by Picasso, Braque and Modigliani.

Turunlinna Castle was built in 1280 to defend the Hanseatic city of Turku. It is one of Finland's most important historical monuments. The passages, halls and chapels of the main castle bear witness to the fascinating history of Turku, Finland, Sweden and other Nordic countries.

The castle church dates back to the early ^18th century.

The powerful grey granite structure comprises two main buildings joined by two massive towers. On view is a large exhibition on the castle's chronology through the centuries, featuring medieval sculptures in the nuns' chapel and the Sturen church, royal visits, court pomp, the prison... Since 1881, the castle's secondary enclosure has housed a museum devoted to the history of the town and to popular arts and traditions between the ^17th and ^19th centuries. Also worth seeing is the collection of weapons and jewelry, as well as a series of beautiful period garments. Allow at least 2 hours for your visit, as the castle is huge (but you won't get lost, as many guides in medieval dress are on hand to help you). Children are not forgotten during the visit, with disguises available for them to play the squire. To better understand the history of the site and the town, we still recommend that you take the tour with a recommended guide. Audioguide in French (via smartphone). Temporary exhibitions. Café-restaurant on site.

Dating back to 1896, it features some 70 stalls selling fish, meats, cheeses, fruit and vegetables, pastries, ecological products and souvenirs. There are also numerous restaurants offering both international and Finnish cuisine. Among them, special mentions to Jascal TMII (Korean cuisine), Roots Kitchen (vegetarian cuisine) and Aschan (for its train carriages where you can sit and eat)! Ideal for a 100% local meal!

At the Maison Lebell, come and discover the story of the life of a merchant family between the 18th and 19th centuries. This house was built in 1762 and became a museum in 1939. Inside, you will discover a unique baroque room. Ceilings and wall fabrics are original, and the superb green earthenware stove is certainly the oldest in the country! Next to the Lebell house is the Félenska gården house, built in 1841, which is used for conferences

The black sailing ship, the Sigyn, launched in 1887 in Gothenburg, was bought by Finland in 1927. It is the only cargo ship with wooden sails (oak and pine) still in existence. Other ships are to be seen, such as the Suomen Joutsen (literally the "Swan of Finland"). This ship came out in 1902 from the French shipyards of Saint-Nazaire under the name of Laennec. After having circumnavigated the world 9 times, she was used as a training ship for future sailors.

If you have a car, you can start, to connect Jakobstad and Kokkola, 40 km away, by opting for the beautiful Route des Sept-Ponts (road no. 749). It winds its way through the archipelago of the Gulf of Bothnia, going deep into the heart of a wild and grandiose site. Then on Isokatu 2-4, towards the city museum. In a rich old house, this museum retraces the prestigious past of the city. Good plan: Wednesdays from 6pm to 8pm, it's free! Then the Nanoq museum introduces you to the way of life and culture of the primitive Arctic peoples.

A world of tastes and smells opens up to you. Stop to taste the local products, we particularly recommend that you try the speciality of Tampere; the Mustamakkara. This is a black pudding with rye that is eaten with its cranberry jam and accompanied by cold milk. You should find what you are looking for. It is indeed no more and no less than the largest covered market in northern Europe! It's like being in an old movie. An obligatory stopover to make in Tampere as the charm operates here!