Hattula: Church Art, Nature and Experiences

Hattula combines medieval church art, a prehistoric hillfort and the unspoilt Vanajanniemi peninsula with seasonal activities for active days. Lepaa adds horticultural history, parkland and local drinks to the experience. If you’re looking for a hotel in Hattula, start by considering what matters most to you: culture, lakeside scenery or outdoor activities.

Hattula at a glance

• According to current research, Hattulan Pyhän Ristin kirkko was built between 1472 and 1490.
• Vanajanniemi extends into Iso Vanaja as a 72-hectare peninsula with three kilometres of shoreline.
• The Parola Armour Museum’s collections include around 8,000 exhibits.
• The Lepaa Exhibition for the horticulture and green industries has been held annually since 1964.
• In summer, Hiihtomaa has an 18-hole disc golf course; in winter, a floodlit sledding hill.

Churches and collections

Hattulan Pyhän Ristin kirkko in Parola is known for its medieval furnishings. Numerous frescoes from the 1510s adorn the nave walls; they are among the largest and best-preserved in Finland. The older pulpit is another striking historical feature: dating 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, Pyhän Ristin kirkko is open as a museum. Individual visitors can join guided tours; groups must book in advance. For a different perspective on churches, visit Hattulan kirkko, also known as Hattulan uusi kirkko: this Neo-Gothic brick church was built between 1852 and 1857 to designs by Ernst Bernhard Lohrmann.

The Parola Armour Museum explores military history and personal stories. Its collections include around 8,000 exhibits, including 60 armoured vehicles, 30 anti-tank weapons and displays on personal history. The main exhibition features tanks, armoured vehicles, an armoured train, anti-tank guns and other anti-tank equipment. By contrast, the Tyrvännön järvikalastusmuseo focuses on fishing methods and the history of fishing and crayfishing; its exhibitions change annually. Mierola Bridge is a reinforced-concrete bridge dating from 1919, protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency.

Peninsula, hillfort and views

Vanajanniemi is an unspoilt peninsula extending into Iso Vanaja. Its 72 hectares and three kilometres of shoreline give the landscape a clear sense of scale. The peninsula has a beach, an outdoor toilet, a campfire site, a walking trail, a boat ramp and a marina. Lakeside scenery and a range of facilities for spending time outdoors come together in one place.

Tenholan linnavuori is a prehistoric hillfort on the summit of a ridge of sand. From the top, you can see Rapola in Sääksmäki and Aulangon linnavuori. Use the car park at Tenholantie 1 as your starting point: from there, a signposted trail of about one kilometre leads to the hillfort; signage may change. At the foot of the hill is a campfire site maintained by the Municipality of Hattula; its condition may change.

Lepaa: horticulture and local products

Parkland 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. Lepaan Mamselli windmill is also part of the area’s history: built in 1829, it was once used to pump water to the cultivated land.

Lepaa Winery produces local wines, beers and ciders. It offers wine tastings for groups by arrangement. For a different kind of experience, Lepaa Golf has a nine-hole course. Those interested in horticulture and the green industries can also visit the annual Lepaa Exhibition on the Lepaa campus. It has been held there since 1964.

Activities throughout the year

The Municipality of Hattula has seven multi-golf and disc golf courses. One is in Hiihtomaa, where you can play disc golf on an 18-hole course in summer. In winter, there is a floodlit hill for sledding. With activities that change by season, Hiihtomaa offers different things to do throughout the year.

Mountain biking is another option: in 2022, the Kanta-Häme region’s first mountain bike trail maintained in winter opened in Hattula. Trail maintenance may vary by season. The Hiihtomaa shelter is on the Ilvesreitti trail. Another shelter in Lepaa, named after the legendary Lepaan Anna, can be reached by following a forest path of about 300 metres from Annalantie.

Discover more destinations: Tammela, Tyrväntö, Humppila, Riihimäki, Janakkala, Harviala, Ypäjä and Forssa.

Frequently asked questions about Hattula

What makes Hattulan Pyhän Ristin kirkko special?

The church in Parola combines medieval history with exceptional furnishings: its frescoes date from the 1510s, and its older pulpit was made in 1550. The church has also been known as an international pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages.

When can you visit Pyhän Ristin kirkko?

It is open as a museum for most of the summer season and offers guided tours for individual visitors. Groups must book tours in advance.

Which activities change with the seasons?

In summer, Hiihtomaa has an 18-hole disc golf course; in winter, it has a floodlit sledding hill. The mountain bike trail opened in 2022 and was maintained in winter; its upkeep may vary by season.

How long is the trail to Tenholan linnavuori?

A signposted trail of about one kilometre leads from the car park at Tenholantie 1 to the hillfort. Signage may change; from the summit, you can see Rapola in Sääksmäki and Aulangon linnavuori.

Back to the regional travel guide: Kanta-Häme.