Tyrväntö: Church Art, Village History and Lepaa

Tyrväntö can be explored through specific historical landmarks: the church in the village of Suotaala combines a building dating from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries with older furnishings. Nearby, the Lepaa Campus Park and Lepaa Winery offer a different focus. For your stay, you can weigh up local history, garden landscapes, wine experiences and activities in the wider region.

Tyrväntö Church and traces of the past

Tyrväntö Church was built in the village of Suotaala around the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries and completed in 1801. Until 1970, it served as the church of the independent municipality of Tyrväntö. Its furnishings also point to different periods: the pulpit dates from the 1690s, and the bells from 1704 and 1709. They came from the old church in Lepaa. The altarpiece, “Christ in Gethsemane,” was painted in 1853 by Emilie Boije, who came from Lepaa. The Art Nouveau interior dates from a renovation in 1902.

The dates therefore tell not only of the building’s construction, but also of earlier furnishings and a later change to the interior. The church is surrounded by a cemetery, where mainly residents of Tyrväntö have been buried since the early 19th century. The main service of the Hattula parish is held at the church once a month. The church car park is on Tyrvännöntie.

Suotaala beyond the church

Other places in Suotaala also point to different periods in the area’s history. The Katinkivenpelto and Antiala burial mounds recall the Iron Age. Mattila Farm is one of the ten farms already in existence there in the mid-16th century. The former grain loan storehouse has a different history of use: today it serves as a local history museum. Together, the church, burial mounds, farm and storehouse offer different points of interest if you are curious about a place’s history as reflected in its buildings and traces in the landscape.

Lepaa: Park, wine and a medieval building

Nearby, the Lepaa Campus Park is set in an old manor landscape. It includes a species-rich arboretum and display gardens. The park was the first in Finland to receive the Green Flag award. Lepaa therefore offers garden and landscape enthusiasts a different focus from the local history of Suotaala.

At nearby Lepaa Winery, groups can book guided wine tastings and tours of the production facilities. Check the booking conditions in advance. The grounds of Lepaa Manor are also home to Tyrväntö’s medieval stone sacristy—a separate historical site from the church in the village of Suotaala. Lepaa is served from Hämeenlinna by Hopealinja boat routes; check route availability before travelling.

Weighing up your travel interests and holiday apartment

The wider region around Vanajavesi is suitable for sailing. This gives you a choice of different focuses: the church and local history in Suotaala, the park and display gardens, group activities at nearby Lepaa, or sailing on Vanajavesi in the wider area. When looking for a holiday apartment in Tyrväntö, consider which of these stops you want to shape your stay. If travelling to Lepaa by boat or taking a group tour at the winery is part of your plans, check the route or booking conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Harviala, Janakkala, Tammela, Loppi, Humppila, Hauho, Hausjärvi, Ypäjä.

Back to the main travel overview: Kanta-Häme.