Hauho: Church Village, Cultural Landscape and Museums

The church village, museums and natural areas offer different ways to decide whether to travel to Hauho. The historic village setting, local history and landscape each appeal to different interests. This can help you consider which aspect of the area you would like to shape your stay in particular.

The unified ensemble of the church village

Hauho’s church village is an exceptionally well-preserved, unified ensemble comprising a church, vicarages, streets, farmsteads, small houses and commercial buildings. What makes it distinctive is the way these different elements fit together: it is not just one building, but the village setting as a whole that gives the ensemble its character.

Wanha Raitti stretches around the medieval stone church. With its bathhouses, it is one of Finland’s best-preserved church village ensembles and is considered a unique rural cultural landscape. Its setting within the wider landscape is also part of the village’s character: Hauho’s church village is part of the nationally significant Hauhonselkä cultural landscape area.

Museums and local history

The Kotko open-air museum is maintained by the Hauho-Seura association and displays farm objects and buildings. The buildings are open to groups by prior arrangement. The Hauhon Esinemuseo has a different focus: as a local history museum, it presents Hauho’s history and cultural heritage.

The Hauhon Esinemuseo is housed in a former granary built in 1818. The exhibits include gallery paintings created by soldier Jonas Erik Korler in 1772. The comparison of dates is noteworthy: the paintings were made before the granary in which they are now displayed was built. The museum thus brings together exhibits from an earlier period and a historic building dating from 1818.

Nature trails and views

The Kotkonharju nature reserve offers forest trails, a hilly landscape and shores along clear lakes. In contrast to the built environment of the church village, it is a natural area defined by trails, landforms and lake shores. If you take both local history and landscape into account when choosing your destination, these offer different points of focus.

For a specific viewpoint, visit the Vuorenharju observation tower on Wanha Raitti: from there, the view extends far across clear Hauhonselkä. The observation tower draws attention to the cultural landscape area, while Kotkonharju is described in terms of its forest trails, hilly landscape and lake shores.

Getting there and events

You can reach Hauho by bus from Hämeenlinna in about 47 minutes; the journey from Tampere and Lahti takes about an hour in each case. These travel times are approximate. Check current routes and timetables for your travel date.

Events can also play a part in planning. Hauhon Herkkujen Yö is a long-running food event with culinary offerings at various locations in Hauho. Niskavuoriviikko has been held for more than 30 years and opens with a Midsummer Peace Proclamation: it is read aloud on Midsummer Eve beside Hauho Church, at the Skytten-Au square.

The two events have different focuses: Herkkujen Yö centers on culinary offerings at various locations, while the proclamation is part of the opening of Niskavuoriviikko. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the dates for your travel year; programs and participating locations may vary.

Discover more destinations: Hämeenlinna, Tyrväntö, Peränne, Harviala, Ypäjä, Hattula, Janakkala, Riihimäki

For the overview of the wider region: Kanta-Häme.