Things to Do
The Urajärvi area has a relaxed, unhurried character that makes it easy to fill your days however you like. Nearby you'll find atmospheric summer dance pavilions and local events, horseback riding, and farm stalls selling fresh honey and berries.
The landscape itself is half the attraction. The ridges, valleys, and quiet village roads around the lake were practically made for cycling and hiking, and the wooded shorelines offer plenty of peaceful trails to explore. The second Salpausselkä ridge is a striking glacial formation running through the area, and it has paths that reward the effort with great views.
Urajärvi Manor
Surrounded by lake scenery and set within a romantic park, Urajärvi Manor Museum is one of the oldest manor museums in Finland, having opened its doors to the public as early as 1928. The Empire-style main building preserves the home of Lilly and Hugo von Heideman just as it was in the early 1900s. A smaller outbuilding was arranged as a museum by the siblings themselves during their lifetimes. They called it "the quiet house of memories", and it still carries that atmosphere today.
A short walk along the charming Hugo's Path leads to the Valhalla viewpoint, where a graceful semicircular colonnade in the classical style has stood since 1913.
The manor also has a café, making it a lovely afternoon outing. More information at urajarvenkartano.fi.
In summer, the manor grounds come alive with the Urajärvi Manor Theatre, staging open-air performances in a setting that's hard to beat. See the season programme at urajarvenkartanoteatteri.fi.
