Wivi Lönn’s Jyväskylä – a guided walking tour

Wivi Lönn (1872 Tampere – 1966 Helsinki) was the first female architect in Finland to run her own architectural practice. During her long life she won architectural competitions and got to design a wide variety of buildings. In 1959 she was given the title of professor as the first woman of her trade.

Wivi Lönn spent some of the most important years of her life in Jyväskylä. She needed a peaceful place to work but also to be closer to his brothers and their families. Soon she met her friend and companion, factory owner Hanna Parviainen, the first woman to be awarded the title of Commercial Councellor in Finland.

This tour takes us around the Seminaarinmäki Hill on foot. There the architect designed her own Art Nouveau inspired dream home as well as a brewery and several of the wooden villas built in the early 1900s. You’ll hear about Jyväskylä of that time, about her career and the life she led. You will also hear about her friendship with Hanna Parviainen.

Seminaarinmäki Hill together with the Älylä area next to it is a Nationally significant built cultural heritage site. As the villas are private homes we cannot promise a visit in the houses or gardens.

Recommended extras (not included):
– A visit to Aalto2 museum center in the area. The visit combines architecture, design and cultural heritage.
– A guided tour on the Seminaarinmäki Campus of the Jyväskylä University showing the redbrick architecture of Alvar Aalto. The campus has received the European Heritage Label.
– Lunch or dinner at the top-class restaurant Kuokkalan Kartano Mansion (1904). The mansion was designed by Wivi Lönn for a wealthy businessman.

The tour is available in English and depending on the availability of the guides, in several other languages. All our guides are authorized by the Federation of Finnish Tourist Guide Associations. The tour can be customized to suit the group.

Prices per group (2024)
– Mon-Sat €149
– Sun and national holidays €254
– Extra hours à €48/96