Juselius Mausoleum
Satakunta
Juselius Mausoleum, located in the Käppärä Cemetery in Pori, Finland, is a unique and culturally significant monument built between 1901 and 1903. Commissioned by local businessman Fritz Arthur Jusélius as a memorial for his daughter Sigrid, who died of tuberculosis at age eleven, it stands as the only mausoleum in Finland. Designed by architect Josef Stenbäck in the Gothic Revival style, the building features an octagonal main chamber with a copper dome and a 35-meter-high tower. Its interiors are famously adorned with frescoes originally painted by celebrated Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting themes such as the seasons and mythological motifs, which were tragically destroyed by fire in 1931 and later repainted by his son Jorma Gallen-Kallela. The bronze doors were crafted by sculptor Alpo Sailo, and the mausoleum incorporates Masonic symbolism reflecting the affiliations of both Jusélius and Gallen-Kallela. The sarcophagi of Sigrid and Fritz Arthur Jusélius are housed inside, with Sigrid's white Italian marble sarcophagus visible from the upper floor. The mausoleum and the surrounding cemetery are recognized as nationally significant cultural environments and form part of Pori's national urban park. Today, it remains one of Pori's most visited attractions, offering visitors a profound artistic and historical experience.
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Astuce: The mausoleum is open daily in summer (May to August) from 11 AM to 4 PM and on Sundays in winter (September to April) from 12 PM to 3 PM. Admission is free. Guided tours are available during opening hours, but group visits outside these times require advance booking. Note that the mausoleum is closed on Easter, Midsummer, and Christmas. Visiting in summer offers the best experience with full accessibility and longer opening hours.
Faits intéressants
- •Juselius Mausoleum is the only mausoleum in Finland and one of the few in Northern Europe.
- •The interior frescoes were originally painted by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, a leading Finnish artist, and later repainted by his son Jorma after a fire.
- •The mausoleum incorporates Masonic symbolism due to the Freemason affiliations of both the commissioner and the artist.
- •The bronze doors were designed by sculptor Alpo Sailo based on a model by Gallen-Kallela.
- •The sarcophagus of Sigrid Jusélius is made of white Italian marble and can be viewed from the upper floor through a circular opening in the floor.
- •The mausoleum and Käppärä Cemetery are listed as Cultural Environments of National Significance by the Finnish National Board of Antiquities.
- •The mausoleum is part of the Pori National Urban Park, emphasizing its cultural and historical importance.
Histoire
The Juselius Mausoleum was built in memory of Sigrid Jusélius, who passed away in 1898 at the age of eleven.
Inspired by a chapel in Turku Cathedral, Fritz Arthur Jusélius commissioned architect Josef Stenbäck to design the mausoleum in the Gothic Revival style, completed in 1903.
The original frescoes by Akseli Gallen-Kallela were destroyed in a fire in 1931 and repainted by his son Jorma between 1933 and 1939.
The mausoleum was officially reopened in 1941 on Fritz Arthur Jusélius's birthday.
It has since been recognized as a unique public artwork in Northern Europe and a nationally significant cultural site.
Guide du lieu
Main Octagonal Chamber1903 (original), 1933–1939 (repainted)
The central hall of the mausoleum, featuring eight sides and decorated with the famous frescoes depicting themes of nature, mythology, and seasons by Akseli Gallen-Kallela and his son Jorma.
Sarcophagus of Sigrid Jusélius1903
A white Italian marble sarcophagus located in the basement crypt, visible from the upper floor through a circular opening framed by a marble railing designed by Gallen-Kallela.
Bronze Doors1903
The mausoleum's entrance doors made of bronze, created by sculptor Alpo Sailo based on a model by Akseli Gallen-Kallela.
Copper Dome and Tower1903
The mausoleum is topped with a copper dome and a 35-meter-high tower, characteristic of Gothic Revival architecture, with gargoyles adorning the eaves.
Contact
Téléphone: 020 7109083