Jyväskylä is a city situated among forests and lakes in central Finland. Its buildings were mostly built after World War II, and many of the local buildings were designed by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.
The city was founded in the first half of the 19th century and was built practically from scratch. Its development, however, only began after World War II, when many refugees from Karelia came here. At that time, new districts were built and the urban layout was changed. Today, the vast majority of buildings are functionalist and modernist buildings from the post-war period. A monument from the 19th century is the neo-Gothic town church.
Alvar Aalto, one of the most outstanding Finnish architects, contributed significantly to the urban development of Jyväskylä. He designed, among others building of the Central Finland Museum. There is also a museum in the city that documents its architectural activities.
The greatest attractions of Jyväskylä are the local museums. At the Finnish Air Force Museum, you can see planes from different periods and their equipment. Valuable collections are in the Central Finland Nature Museum and the Jyväskylä Art Museum. In turn, at the Finnish Craft Museum, you can see wood, metal, textiles and examples of Finnish design.
In the vicinity of Jyväskylä, on the puolakka hill, the Struve Meridian runs. This line, drawn in the 19th century by Russian scientists, was intended to accurately measure the shape and size of the Earth. There are a number of triangulation points along its course. One of them can be visited while exploring Jyväskylä, and the meridian itself is now a UNESCO site.
