Mänttä-Vilppula is only one hour away from both Jyväskylä and Tampere. It was traditionally known for its paper industry but has become known for hosting one of the biggest private art collections in the north of Europe. As a student ambassador, I was invited to go there last autumn. Despite my passion for art, I was unaware of such museum town existing so close to Tampere.
The Art museum is comprised of two buildings: the Serlachius Museums Gösta and the Serlachius Museums Gustaf.
The Serlachius Museum Gösta
Serlachius Museum Gösta is located in the private residence of Gösta Serlachius, the first paper mill owner and founder of the paper factory in Mänttä. He was interested in art. As a matter of fact, he bought his first work of art from the first salary he received from the Mänttä factories. After his death, his nephew took over the company and expanded his collection, but it was his widow who opened the museum in 1945 to show the family’s art collection.
During my visit I got to see paintings from well-known Finnish artists, such as Hugo Simberg and Akseli Gallen-Kallela, but I also discovered lesser known ones (at least for foreigners) such as Gunnar Berndtson, Helene Schjerfbeck, Olli and Bucklan, Olli referring to Olga Gummerus–Ehrström and Bucklan to her husband Herman Erik Gummerus.
After that we moved to the temporary exhibition, that at the time was The quest for happiness. These pieces were more contemporary and more interactive for the visitors. By the way, you are not only allowed to take pictures but encouraged to do so. What I liked the most was probably “Where shall we go dancing tonight” by Goldschmiel and Chiari.
Next, we took the shuttle bus that took us to Museum Gustaf. We could have gone by bikes, as there were many available for visitors, but it was a rainy day, so we didn’t feel like it. We were also told that they have boats that can be used during the summer and that people usually do picnics by the lakeside. There is also a restaurant in the Gösta Museum that serves superb food inspired by the art of the museum.
The Serlachius Museum Gustaf
The Gustaf museum building was built in 1934 as the head office of the paper company G. A. Serlachius Ltd, nowadays known as Serla, a well-known paper company. It is considered one of the pearls of Finnish 1930s architecture. Gösta Serlachius wanted it to be a business card of the company. The works of well-known Finnish artists decorate the functionalist office building. Moreover, it still has the technical installations of its time. The building was acquired by the Foundation in 2000 to become the second museum of the Fine Arts Foundation in Mänttä.
In Gustaf, we had an amazing performed guided tour in English that took us back in time when the factory opened in 1934. We also had the chance to learn how to make our own paper.
The basic museum ticket is 10 €/adult and 7 €/ student, under 18 year-olds for free. The fee includes the entrance to the museums Gösta and Gustaf. There’s another type of ticket that includes transportation from and to Tampere on the same day. I found this very useful as I don’t own a car:
- Museum ticket + transportation from Tampere: 30 €/adult and 27 €/student. It includes a round ticket from Tampere to Mänttä, entrance to the museums Gösta and Gustaf and transfers in between the museums and other locations in Mänttä. The bus leaves at 10:50 from Tampere bus station (platform 2) or from Tampere railway station (bus stop close to the main door) at 11:05. It arrives at 12:25 at the Serlachius Museum Gösta, Mänttä, and it leaves back to Tampere at 17:20 departure from Serlachius Museum Gösta or Serlachius Museum Gustaf at 17:30. The bus arrives at 18:45 arrival at Tampere railway station or bus station at 18:50. Due to the ongoing construction in Tampere and other regulations, please make sure to check the website for any changes!
Another option to get there is by bike, recommended in the summer. You ride the Näsi Lake Trails. It consists of three main routes suitable for cyclists. The routes also include suggestions for restaurants, locally grown food, accommodation and everything interesting to see and experience along the way.
Other museums in the area
Vilppula Homeland and School Museum
These museums display local artefacts related to rural life, artefacts related to the State Railways, fire pumps and artefacts related to elementary school time.
Vehkaniemi Holiday and Party Farm
It’s an interesting location which displays fine art, photographs, old weaves and other handcrafts. You can learn about the history of the space and exhibitions by appointment. It’s open on Sundays in July from 12 noon to 4 pm, at other times by appointment and on an event-by-event basis. It also offers accommodation in cabins.
I don’t know many better ways of experiencing the best Finland has to offer than spending a day in a beautiful setting with lakes and nature and art and history. Mänttä-Vilppula can offer this all at once. Maybe you’ll begin to understand why Finns love their summer so much. Especially, if you’re lucky enough to get a sunny day.
– Mónica
