Culture Tour 2025
The Loimaa Culture Tour will be held for the sixth time on 31 August, which is Museum Day in Southwest Finland. Several museums, exhibitions and cultural attractions in Loimaa will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no admission fee.
This year, as many as 32 locations are participating in the event. Some of the locations are only open on this particular Sunday. It is impossible to visit all of the locations in one day, but next year you can continue exploring Loimaa’s history and rich cultural heritage.
A map serving as a museum pass is available for the sites, on which visitors can collect stamps for the sites they have visited and participate in a prize draw.
Museum passes are available at the destinations and can also be left at all destinations except Krekilä Mill, Lieskivi Smithy Museum and Virttaan raitti route.
The event is ideal for all ages. You are warmly welcome to join us!
Follow the signs and pink balloons!
Targets for 2025
Cultural site
Virttaanraitti 6, 32560 Virttaa
You can explore the site on your own at any time.
Exhibition
Pakilantie 7, 32440 Alastaro
Art and craft exhibition with an opportunity to purchase handicrafts. The results of the children’s drawing competition will be on display, and visitors can vote for the best drawing.
There will be a refreshment stand serving coffee, tea, juice and pastries.
Come and see our wonderful and unique youth centre!
Cultural site
Niinijoentie 750, 32410 Niinijoki
Museum, Exhibition
Aura-Pirkkatie 84, 32300 Loimaa
Homepage: Alpo Jaakola Sculpture Park and Dry Gallery
Alpo Jaakola Sculpture Park:
Professor Alpo Jaakola (1929–1997), also known as the shaman of Loimaa or the clay region, is Loimaa’s most famous contemporary artist. His extensive body of work includes numerous sculptures, the largest of which can be found in the sculpture park surrounding his home.
Alpo Jaakola’s Sculpture Park has been open to the public since 1992 and is one of Loimaa’s most visited tourist attractions.
Café open.
Dry Gallery:
On display is a photography exhibition by Paavo Kujala, better known as Kuva-Paavo. He has been photographing the everyday life and celebrations of the people of Loimaa since the 1960s and has immortalised several generations: he has taken tens of thousands of school photos alone. At its peak, Kuva-Paavo had branches in Loimaa, Forssa, Huittinen and Turku. Thanks to his positions of trust in the photography industry, Paavo and his wife have travelled all over the world. In 2024, Paavo Kujala was deservedly awarded the Loimaa Medal and a lifetime achievement award.
Over the decades, Paavo Kujala has also taken many photographs of Alpo Jaakola and the statue park. These photographs have been compiled into an exhibition at the Kuivuri Gallery in the summer of 2025.
Artist’s studio
Hulmintie, 32200 Loimaa
Website: www.ellakart.org
Artist Ella K (Hällfors) works in Loimaa in her studio, which has been renovated from an old barn and is now known as Ateljee Ella K. The space is familiar to many Loimaa residents as Ateljee Hulmina, a place where Ella’s parents worked for many years as jewellery smiths. When her mother, Elina Haukka, retired, the studio was repurposed. The building is a meeting place for art, personal history and the tradition of craftsmanship.
Ella K’s artistic work is based on sensitivity and careful observation. Her works examine nature, objects, events and characters – often through emotional states and the interfaces between different worlds. She explores the balance between joy and sorrow, lightness and melancholy, seeking to express visually things that words cannot always capture.
Drawing and highlighting details are at the core of her work. This slow, long-term and focused process feels particularly relevant in an age characterised by speed and a constant flood of stimuli.
Exhibition
Vesikoskenkatu 3 32, 32200 Loimaa
Calligrapher Maija Muhonen presents her work. The exhibition features new and old aphorisms and greeting cards.
During the cultural tour, visitors will have the opportunity to try out various calligraphy tools.
Cultural attraction
Samulinkatu 7, 32200 Loimaa
Museum
Cultural site, Introduction
Kanta-Loimaantie, 32210 Hirvikoski
Museum
Koivusuontie 424, 32300 Mellilä
Website: karjalaevakkorekimuseo.fi
Old horse-drawn vehicles on display. Also on display are old election advertisements for the Agrarian Party and Kekkonen, old
teaching charts, tools, tobacco pouches, etc.
Cultural site
Niinijoentie 316, 32410 Niinijoki
You can explore the mill on your own at any time. There is also a nature trail in the area.
Cultural attraction, Museum, Exhibition, Guided tour
Kuukankuja 1, 32200 Loimaa
The Kurkijoki Museum was established to preserve objects, documents and photographs belonging to people who were evacuated from Kurkijoki. The theme of this year’s annually changing exhibition is the Kurkijoki Martas.
Cultural attraction, Exhibition
Mälläistentie 414, 32450 Mälläinen
Step back in time and experience the authentic atmosphere of the 1880s in the main building of Kärki, where the Talon tyttärien café serves freshly baked buns and coffee. At the same time, you can explore the courtroom, admire the view of the Loimijoki River from the porch, or soak up the atmosphere of Kärki’s large kitchen.
You can also see the most magnificent tree in the region, an oak with a circumference of five metres, in the courtyard. Hugging the tree is allowed!
Welcome!
Cultural site
Vanha Hämeentie 338, 32200 Loimaa
You can visit the site on your own at any time.
Museum
Kanta-Loimaantie 13, 32210 Hirvikoski
Museum
Kauppalankatu 17, 32200 Loimaa
Museum
Lähteenmäentie, 32200 Loimaa
Many old winter sports equipment items.
Cultural site
Kauppalankatu 17, 32200 Loimaa
Website: Loimaa Library
During the cultural tour, you can borrow and return materials, pick up reservations, use customer computers, read
magazines and spend time at the library.
Museum
Rantatie 2, 32200 Loimaa
Website: loimaantaidemuseo.fi, permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions
Art house:
Lylyn talo was built in 1928. The building originally served as the residence of sawmill manager Alfred Lylyn’s family and as the headquarters of the steam sawmill located on Rantatie. In the 1950s, the Loimaa Business School Support Association purchased Lylyn talo. The building housed the business school until 1965, after which the Workers’ Institute used it as teaching facilities.
Lylyn talo became an art centre in November 2012, when the Loimaa Art Museum was opened to the public on the second floor of the building. The exhibition spaces of the Loimaa Art Museum are located on the second floor of the art centre.
The collection exhibition changes once a year and the exhibitions in the temporary art spaces change approximately every four months. Concerts are held at the art centre, including the Tuesday Concert series in the museum’s largest hall, surrounded by the Haapasten collection exhibition.
Collection exhibition:
The weather is one of the most reliable topics of conversation – rain or shine. The 2025 collection exhibition, On ilmoja pidelly! (Hold on to the weather!), lingers over the different seasons, from bright spring days to stormy seas.
Cultural site
Veteraanintie 21, 32200 Loimaa
Field kitchen pea soup for sale
Cultural site, Guided tour, Presentation
Koskenkyläntie, 32440 Alastaro
Presentation of the history of the house and guided walk to the shooting range viewing shelter at 13:00
Cultural attraction, Museum
Isonsuontie 43, 32450 Mälläinen
Finland’s largest collection of coffee grinders, old mopeds and tractors, and much more to see. Telephones and radios from new to old.
Cash only in the café.
Museum
Virttaanraitti 14, 32560 Virttaa
Website: Facebook
The collection focuses on the history of Finnish information technology, particularly Mikko and MikroMikko computers. Several computers are
also available to try out, and you can play old games on them.
Cultural attraction
Mälläistentie 407, 32450 Mälläinen
Website: Facebook
This building, which used to be a co-op shop, now houses a shop museum, a motorist café and the PikkuPunahilkka summer café.
The shop museum takes you back to the 1970s. Exhibition “Aaro100v” about the life of Aaron, who worked as a shop manager for 30 years. Coffee and pastries are available for purchase and consumption on site. Special diets catered for.
The building also houses the gluten-free bakery PikkuPunahilkka.
Always free admission!
Cash or MobilePay payments accepted at the café.
Cultural attraction, Exhibition, Presentation
Keskitie 51, 31960 Orisuo
Exhibition on times of scarcity and presentation of artefacts. Opportunity to visit the Prayer Room, which is currently owned by a local association.
Cultural attraction, Museum, Exhibition
Vanhankirkontie 383, 32200 Loimaa
Website: sarka.fi
The Finnish Agricultural Museum Sarka opened its doors to the public in June 2005 and this year marks the museum’s 20th anniversary.
Since its early years, the museum has expanded into three separate exhibition buildings.
Sarka is a popular cultural destination for visitors in the middle of the countryside, which fits in well with the museum’s theme. The greatest recognition for the museum’s constantly evolving and diverse work came in 2021, when Sarka was selected as Museum of the Year by the Finnish Museums Association.
Exhibition, Cultural attraction
Turuntie 4, 32200 Loimaa
Website: jaakolantaide.fi
Presentation of the art of Alpo and Pirkko Jaakola.
Cultural attraction, Museum
Auvaistentie 400, 32430 Ylhäinen
A unique collection of Oriental art in an old elementary school setting.
Cultural attraction
Tammiaistentie 109, 32450 Tammiainen
Many old tractors, cars and other machines.
Cultural attraction
Juvantie 11, 32200 Loimaa
Website: vesikoskitalo.com
Paper mill since 1907, leather factory since 1918, now a multi-purpose cultural centre. You can visit the heritage room and other facilities.
Klaus Kopu’s art studio:
Website: klauskopu.com
Loimaa-born painter Klaus Kopu studied at the University of the Arts’ Academy of Fine Arts and the Lahti Institute of Fine Arts.
He has been working with painting and sculpture at Vesikoskitalo since 2008. The most important aspects of Klaus Kopu’s work are the basic characteristics of painting, such as the power of colour, intensity, movement, materiality and form.
The most important aspects of Klaus Kopu’s work are the basic characteristics of painting, such as the power of colour, intensity, movement, materiality and form. He is most interested in what can be made visible through painting. My paintings have no story, no dramatic arc; they simply depict themselves. For Klaus Kopu, painting is the language of absolute freedom.
His studio is located on the top floor of Vesikoskitalo, which can also be accessed by lift.
Welcome!