Hattula among churches, museums and nature

In the municipality of Hattula, church and military history meet landscapes and activities that vary with the seasons. Parola, Lepaa and other places offer different starting points for planning your trip: from medieval church art and museum collections to lakeside scenery, walking trails and regional wine production.

Churches and museums in Hattula

The Hattulan Pyhän Ristin kirkko stands in Parola. According to current research, it was built between 1472 and 1490. The walls of the nave are decorated with numerous frescoes dating from the 1510s, among the largest and most original in Finland. The older pulpit dates from 1550; it is one of the oldest post-Reformation pulpits in Northern Europe and the oldest in Finland. The church has been known as an international pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages.

For most of the summer season, the church is open as a museum. Individual visitors can join guided tours; groups must book them in advance. As visits are seasonal, check the visitor information before your trip. A later architectural landmark is the Hattulan kirkko, also known as the Hattulan uusi kirkko: the Neo-Gothic brick church was built from 1852 to 1857 to plans by Ernst Bernhard Lohrmann.

The Parola Armour Museum’s main exhibition is dedicated to tanks, armoured vehicles, an armoured train, anti-tank guns and other anti-tank equipment. The collection comprises around 8,000 exhibits, including 60 armoured vehicles and 30 anti-tank weapons, as well as displays on personal stories. Café Tankkitupa serves coffee, pastries, ice cream, filled sandwiches and savoury pastries; the selection may change.

Run by Tyrväntö-Seura, the Tyrvännön järvikalastusmuseo offers insights into fishing techniques and the history of fishing and crayfishing. These themes are complemented by exhibitions that change annually.

Lakeside scenery and trails

Vanajanniemi is a natural peninsula jutting into Iso Vanaja. It covers 72 hectares and has three kilometres of shoreline. The recreation area has a beach, an outdoor toilet, a fire pit, a walking trail, a boat ramp and a marina. Its combination of lakeside scenery and trails makes it a different kind of excursion destination from the museums and churches.

Tenholan linnavuori is a prehistoric hillfort on the summit of a sandy ridge. A signposted trail of approximately one kilometre leads there from the car park at Tenholantie 1; the signage may change. From the summit, you can see Rapola in Sääksmäki and Aulangon linnavuori. At the foot of the hillfort is a fire pit maintained by the municipality of Hattula. If you plan to use it, check its condition before your visit.

Lepaa: parks, wine production and a trade fair

Parks and greenhouses attract numerous visitors to Lepaa throughout the year. The park on the Lepaa campus was the first park in Finland to receive a Green Flag Award. Lepaa Winery produces local wines, beers and cider. Its shop serves as a café and has a licence to serve alcohol. Groups can take part in wine tastings by appointment; guided tours of the production facilities are also available. Check the current visitor arrangements in advance.

The Lepaa Exhibition is an annual trade fair for horticulture and the green sector, held on the Lepaa campus, where it has taken place since 1964. Another historic building is the Lepaan Mamselli windmill, built in 1829. It was formerly used to lift water for the cultivated areas.

Activities by season

The season also affects the activities available. In summer, you can play on an 18-hole disc golf course at Hiihtomaa; in winter, there is a floodlit slope for sledging. There are seven multi-golf and disc golf facilities in the municipality of Hattula in total. Lepaa Golf has a nine-hole golf course.

In 2022, the first mountain biking trail in the Kanta-Häme region to be maintained in winter opened in Hattula. Winter maintenance and availability can vary by season, so check the conditions before setting out. A lean-to shelter at Hiihtomaa is located on the Ilvesreitti trail. From Annalantie, a forest path of about 300 metres leads to the lean-to shelter in Lepaa named after the legendary Lepaan Anna.

Discover more destinations: Riihimäki, Humppila, Peränne, Hauho, Harviala, Hausjärvi, Ypäjä, Janakkala.

For the regional travel overview: Kanta-Häme.