Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
has two to three reliably excellent temporary exhibitions. Borrow a bike here to explore
the town.
Sleeping
Hotelli Alexander
HOTEL
( 03-474-9232;
www.hotellialexander.fi
;
Kauppakatu 23;s/d €59/82; )
In the centre of town is a welcoming and very decent option with compact rooms above a
pleasant modern cafe. It also runs a nearby summer hotel; prices are similar but rooms
have kitchens.
Getting There & Away
On Saturdays in July, you can catch the MS
Elias Lönnrot
from Keuruu. Several weekday
buses and a couple on weekends run to Jyväskylä (€20.60, 1½ hours) via Keuruu, and
Tampere (€20.60, 1½ to 1¾ hours). The town appears as Mänttä-Vilppula on timetables.
TAMPERE TO HÄMEENLINNA
Several interesting sights lie just off the main Tampere-Hämeenlinna motorway.
Visavuori
Visavuori
GALLERY, MUSEUM
( 03-543-6528;
www.visavuori.com
;adult/child €8/2; 10am-6pm daily Jun-Aug, 10am-4pm Tue-
Sun Sep-Nov & Feb-May, 10am-4pm Tue-Fri Dec-Jan)
Once the studio of renowned sculptor Emil Wickström (1864-1942), Visavuori has a stun-
ning situation on a ridge with water on both sides. It consists of three houses, the oldest of
which was the home of Wickström, built in 1902 in Karelian and Finnish Romantic styles,
and containing fantastic art nouveau furniture; it really brings the man to life and is worth
visiting first. The beautiful studio next door, with dozens of models and sculptures, was
built in 1903.
