Häme
The Forssa region and its five vibrant municipalities — Forssa, Tammela, Jokioinen, Ypäjä, and Humppila — offer a wealth of sights and experiences for visitors! Stunning nature destinations, attractions, cultural sites complemented by a lively calendar of events.
We’ve gathered 10 interesting places to visit in the Forssa region.
1. Forssa Spinning Mill Area
The Spinning Mill Area in Forssa is the centre of culture and education in the city. In the former cotton mill, you will find the Forssa Museum and Gallery Moletti, Pattern Centre, Forssa Nature Museum, City Library, exhibition space Vinkkeli, bowling alley, restaurants and shopping.
Also the Häme University of Applied Sciences, Music School, School of Fine Arts, Wahren Institute, early childhood education and youth work service units and small businesses in various sectors are operating in the area.
2. Jokioinen Museum Railway
Steam trains of the Jokioinen Museum Railway drives through the country landscape on summer weekends. You can start the train journey from Minkiö, Jokioinen or Humppila, which can also be reached by national railway network’s train.
Minkiö Station has a summer cafe, a souvenir shop, rail handcar rental and a narrow-gauge museum, with collections of locomotives and wagons from the various narrow-gauge railways in Finland.
3. Torronsuo National Park
Torronsuo National Park in Tammela is the most extensive bog area in Southern Finland. The rugged and beautiful swamp landscape with its birds can be adored from the Kiljamo bird tower or the Idänpäänkallio bird tower in the village of Torro. Torronsuo has routes of varying lengths for the hikers. There are also wide duckboard for handicapped and a plateau on the edge of the open bog where you can admire Finland’s deepest swamp.
During winter, Torronsuo has ski routes of varying lengths maintained by the local village association.
4. Liesjärvi National Park
Liesjärvi National Park consists of forests of different ages, ridges, swamps and beautiful lake landscapes. The most famous natural attraction of the national park is the narrow, approximately one kilometre long Kyynäränharju ridge with low and sandy beaches.
Part of the Liesjärvi National Park is Korteniemi Heritage Farm, where you can experience how the forest ranch of the 1910s lived. The national park has hiking trails of varying lengths, fireplaces, camping areas, and two rental cabins.
5. The Folk Park of Saari
The Folk Park of Saari is ideally suited as a day trip destination. The Park was established in 1932. The area includes sandy beaches, nature trails, a lean-to and a fire place. The Folk Park also has a summer kiosk and a traditional restaurant Lounais-Hämeen Pirtti, the Tanninen Museum and the Kaukolanharju observation tower.
6. Vesihelmi Spa
Vesihelmi Spa is a cheerful water activity centre for the whole family in Forssa. It is a spa for relaxing and a swimming hall for fitness. In addition to the swimming pool, Vesihelmi has hot tubs, a therapy pool, a slide, a jump tower, a wave pool, a cold pool, a children’s pool and two gyms.
Vesihelmi Spa is also perfect for the group tour day program and the charter sauna is suitable for small group meetings and other occasions.
7. Craft skills in Humppila
Humppila has plenty of different places to visit, where you can explore the work of craftsman in their production facilities and exhibitions. You can also buy materials for making crafts yourself.
In the courtyard of Urpola Manor are located the Art Storehouse ITU, Tilkkutex store specialising in patchwork fabrics and accessories, and the Urpola Kutomo Gallery. Located in the middle of the merchant houses on Highway 2 are the blacksmith master’s forge Taidetakomo T. Wirman and Ainoa for fixing furniture.
8. Porras village
Porras is an active village of nearly 400 people located along the Ox Road in Tammela. Village is known for its old taverns. You can explore the beautiful village road Portaanraitti by walking to the residential area of crofters. After crossing the Turpoonjoki bridge, you will arrive at old tannery Porras Nahkurinverstas, where you can find a café-restaurant and Finland’s only tannery museum.
9. The Equine College
Equine College is the national coaching centre for equestrian sport and the largest educational institution in the field. The atmosphere can be experienced at its most vibrant in various events and races, when the top international riders and steers gather at Ypäjä.
Traditional Siittolanmäki has been a stable area since the 1930s and the halls of the student canteen tell their own story about the history of the area. You can explore the history of equestrian sports at the Finnish Equestrian Museum.
10. Summer theatres
Forssa region has a wide selection of various summer theatre productions ranging from the funny farces to bigger musical productions. The theatres frameworks range from covered grandstands to forest stages, from village houses to lake landscapes.
In the Forssa region, summer theatre experiences are produced among others by Rehtilä-Theatre, Torro Theatre, Kyläseppä Summer Theatre, Ypäjä Musical Theatre, Rauhaniemi Summer Theatre, and Theatre Unknown.