Scan Magazine | Mini Theme | Visit Jyväskylä
Säynätsalo Town Hall was designed by Alvar Aalto and is open for visitors.
Jyväskylä is also known as the capital of sport in Finland.
Jyväskylä’s award-winning city lighting makes the city more enjoyable for its residents, especially during the dark winter months. Photo: Atacan Ergin
City of light in the heart of the Finnish Lakeland It is seldom that a visitor has not only the usual cultural and architectural delights available to them within walking distance of the city centre, but also versatile outdoor activities and exciting, unique events too. By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Tero Takalo-Eskola
In the picturesque Lakeland landscape lies the modern and vibrant city of Jyväskylä, which continues to grow in all aspects, the Jyväskylä University and other colleges fuelling the development of the area. It has been estimated that every third person you encounter in Jyväskylä is a student. This ensures that Jyväskylä will stay fresh, vibrant and open to new ideas. “I feel that Jyväskylä is a friendly place with a welcoming atmosphere, and it is always on the move,” explains Susanne Sarvilinna, tourism and marketing manager of Visit Jyväskylä. And moving is what Jyväskylä is all about. “Jyväskylä challenges everyone to get moving, both indoors and outdoors,” says Sarvilinna. “There are many marked routes for walkers
and runners, like the Rantaraitti path around Lake Jyväsjärvi in the city centre.” Jyväskylä offers top-level sports facilities throughout the city too, as well as easy-access outdoor recreation areas. When you are out and about in Jyväskylä, you are sure to spot some masterful architecture, much of it designed by renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. That is why Jyväskylä is the capital city of Alvar Aalto’s architecture. “We have more Aalto designs from different periods than anywhere else in the world,” says Sarvilinna. Visitors can get to know these exceptional buildings on guided tours, or independently on carefully planned routes by foot, bus or bike, or even on lake cruises. In addition to famous architecture upon
which to feast your eyes, the Jyväskylä region also boasts two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Special events Jyväskylä has invested in modern city lighting that is not only aesthetic, but also energy efficient. There are over 100 permanent illuminated locations in the city, and even more are created for the annual City of Light event. The next event is held from 26 to 28 September this year. Jyväskylä is also known for the annual Neste Rally Finland. Central Finland has named itself the Sauna Region of the world. They celebrate the Sauna Region Week between 29 June and 6 July this year. This means that dozens of different sauna experiences are available for visitors, from traditional sauna to smoke sauna and even sauna yoga. There is also the Sauna Heating World Championship, which has garnered wide international interest.
Web: www.visitjyvaskyla.fi Social media: visitjyvaskyla
Issue 121 | February 2019 | 91