Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum
Varsinais-Suomi
Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum is a unique open-air museum located in the heart of Turku, Finland, near Vartiovuori Hill. It is renowned globally for its exceptionally well-preserved wooden buildings that survived the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, making it the city's only intact wooden district from that era. The museum comprises eighteen courtyards with over thirty original wooden houses dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, furnished to represent the homes and workshops of pre-industrial urban craftsmen. Visitors can experience traditional crafts firsthand during the summer months, as artisans work in period attire demonstrating skills such as goldsmithing, book printing, pottery, and textile crafts. The museum also features a historic post office, two shops selling traditional sweets and handicrafts, and an adjacent café housed in a mid-19th-century building. Annual events like the Craftsmanship Days in August and Christmas celebrations offer immersive cultural experiences showcasing Western Finnish festive traditions and folk costumes from the 1700s to early 1900s. Luostarinmäki is part of the Turku City Museum and is recognized as a nationally significant cultural environment in Finland. It received the prestigious Golden Apple award from the International Federation of Journalists and Travel Writers in 1984, underlining its importance as a cultural heritage site and living museum of Finnish craftsmanship.
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Astuce: Visit during summer to see artisans at work in authentic workshops. Purchase tickets in advance for popular seasonal events like the Craftsmanship Days in August. The museum offers discounted admission for children and reduced tickets for eligible visitors. Guided thematic tours are available by reservation, including evening lantern tours and special story-based walks. The café and shops provide traditional local treats and crafts for souvenirs. Accessibility information is available on the official website.
Faits intéressants
- •Luostarinmäki is Turku's only surviving wooden town area that escaped the Great Fire of 1827.
- •The museum features over thirty original wooden houses from the late 1700s and early 1800s, all preserved in their original locations.
- •Since 1943, the annual Craftsmanship Days attract around 40 representatives of different traditional crafts to demonstrate their work.
- •The museum received the Golden Apple award from FIJET in 1984, the only Nordic recipient, recognizing its cultural significance.
- •A guild of craftsmen was established following the award to promote traditional crafts and skills continuity, currently comprising about 70 members including goldsmiths, confectioners, upholsterers, and violin makers.
Histoire
The Luostarinmäki area was settled in the late 18th century as part of Turku's expansion to accommodate population growth and housing shortages.
Its name derives from the former Cloister district of Turku.
The district was spared from the devastating Great Fire of Turku in 1827 due to its location, preserving its original wooden buildings.
The Handicrafts Museum was established and opened to the public on June 29, 1940, aiming to preserve and showcase Turku's urban craftsman history.
Over the decades, it has evolved into a nationally significant cultural environment, maintaining original structures and promoting traditional crafts through live demonstrations and community involvement.
Guide du lieu
Craftsmen’s Workshops and HomesLate 18th - early 19th century
Eighteen courtyards with over thirty wooden houses furnished as pre-industrial urban craftsmen’s workshops and homes, showcasing traditional trades such as goldsmithing, pottery, printing, and textile arts. Artisans work in period costumes during summer, providing live demonstrations.
Historic Post Office and Shops
The museum includes a functioning post office and two shops: Höökarin puoti selling traditional sweets and Hantvärk museum shop offering handicrafts made in the museum.
Kisälli CaféMid-19th century
Located just outside the museum area in a building from the mid-19th century, this café offers traditional Finnish refreshments and complements the museum visit.
Contact
Téléphone: 02 2620350