Explore Church Remains and Learn about Tropical Butterflies
The summer attractions of the University cover a variety of different topics. This year's novelties are guided art tours and a tropical animal exhibition at the Zoological Museum. I you want travel, you can visit Seili or Kevo.
Last year, the Art Tour was held for the first time on the Night of Arts. This summer, everyone has the opportunity to participate in the guided tour.
Food for Thought – Guided and Self-directed Walking Tours
The University offers three guided walking tours and two self-directed ones. The new addition to this summer is the Art Tour, which presents the vast art collection of the University of Turku and connects the works to the different stages of the University and to the Finnish art history.
In addition to the Art Tour, the University offers the Tales of Turku Squares tour, which delves into the city’s history, and the Academic Walk that guides the participants through the history of the Finnish academia.
You can book the tours in English by sending email to skknuu(at)utu.fi. Please include the following information: Please include the following information:
- The date and time for the tour
- Group size
- Contact details (name and phone number)
- Mention if the group is from the University
- Mention if the guide has to take accessibility into account
On the self-directed TimeTreck, you can explore the history of the Universe, earth and living organisms. On the 13.7 kilometre route from Tuorla to the University, a metre corresponds to a million years and one kilometre a billion years.
The Heart of Finland route that connects the Maaherran makasiini building and Vanhalinna at Lieto is a culture route of 11.5 kilometres, which you can either walk or bike. You can start the route at either end.
>> TimeTreck
>> The Heart of Finland Route
Church Remains at Ristimäki and the Centre of Turku
This summer, you can explore the oldest church remains in Finland on location at Ravattula, Kaarina, and in the heart of Turku – in an exhibition at an old storehouse on Luostarin välikatu, next to the Old Great Square.
The exhibition includes artefacts found from Ristimäki, photos from the excavation and the latest research results. It also displays artefacts from the same era found in the nearby graveyards. The exhibition opens at Luostarin välikatu on Thursday 25 June and is open from Wednesdays to Sundays 12–6 pm until 16 August.
The public can also visit the excavation at Ristimäki on Wednesdays at 12–4pm in August. More information about the church remains on the project website:
The Wonders of the Tropic at the Zoological Museum
What is the most beautiful butterfly in the world or the largest hymenopteran in the rain forest? Find out at the Zoological Museum at the University Hill.
The current research at the Zoological Museum focuses mainly on the tropic and the most extraordinary species collected by the researchers have been compiled into a new exhibition. The visitors can discover large multicoloured butterflies the size of a hand, horned hercules and goliath beetles, and even a live tarantula.
In addition to the tropical wonders, you can also visit the permanent exhibition of the Zoological Museum which presents domestic species.
The exhibition is open on weekdays from 8 am to 4 pm in June and August, the Museum is closed in July. The Zoological Museum is situated on the University Hill, in Natural Science Building I.
The Botanical Garden in Bloom
The spring has been especially kind to the plants at the Botanical Garden at Ruissalo and the inflorescence has been exceptionally beautiful, and it should continue throughout the summer. There are 5,000 species and varieties in the outdoor and indoor gardens. Together, they form a live example of the diversity of the world's plant life.
The garden is open to everyone and you can visit it by yourself or with a guide. There is also a small gift shop that sells seeds, seedlings and souvenirs. The outdoor garden is open every day from 8 am to 8pm and the Wanhan Tammen Café is open everyday 10 am – 7 pm.
Open Day at the Archipelago Research Institute and Kevo Subarctic Research Institute in July
You can visit the the Archipelago Research Institute of the University of Turku at the island of Seili, situated on the north side of Nauvo, during the Open Day on Thursday, 16 July. The event programme and transport information will be added on the event's Facebook pages.
You can make a self-directed trip to the island any time, connecting ferries to Seili leave from the town of Nauvo.
>> Seili's Open Day (in Finnish only)
>> The Archipelago Research Institute
Kevo Subarctic Research Institute organises an Open Day on Tuesday, 14 July, at 1–6 pm. There is programme for the whole family and coffee is served in a scenic restaurant.
Breathtaking Views from the Bengtskär Lighthouse
You can visit the Bengtskär Lighthouse each day between 10 am – 7 pm until the end of August. The lighthouse is the highest in the Nordic countries and it is owned by Turku University Foundation. You can also take a tour in the lighthouse museum.
The boat from Kasnäs to Bengtskär through Rosala leaves at 11.30 am and a direct boat back to Kasnäs leaves at 5.30 pm.
Text: Erja Hyytiäinen
Photos: the archive of the University of Turku
Translation: Mari Ratia