Urjala: Glass Art, Literature and Nature

Urjala brings together a long history of glassmaking, literature, lake landscapes, and paths through gardens and nature. In Nuutajärvi, glass objects at the museum range from the 19th century to the present day; elsewhere, a flower park, viewpoints, and literary landmarks invite you to make different discoveries. You can choose the focus of your trip based on the experiences that interest you most.

Urjala at a glance

• The Prykäri Glass Museum displays glass objects from Nuutajärvi dating from the 19th century to the present day.
• The Nuutajärvi Glassworks is Finland’s oldest glassworks still in operation.
• In Pölkinvuori, an approximately 1 km nature trail leads to an observation platform at an elevation of 163 meters.
• The annual Pentinkulman päivät is a major national literary event.
• The national Taikayö Tourist Route loops around Lake Rutajärvi.

Glass art and history in Nuutajärvi

The Prykäri Glass Museum offers a broad look at the history of glassmaking in Nuutajärvi: its representative collection includes glass objects dating from the 19th century to the present day. Different periods and styles are presented side by side, rather than limiting the focus to a single era. An audio guide, available in Finnish, Swedish, or English, is included in the admission price.

The Nuutajärvi Glassworks is also part of this cultural highlight. It is Finland’s oldest glassworks still in operation, and its setting conveys the atmosphere of a 19th-century factory. The glass museum and the glassworks offer different perspectives: one focuses on the collection, the other on the historic factory environment. Lintukoto adds to the visit with a permanent exhibition of glass art birds designed by artist and professor Oiva Toikka (1931–2019). The exhibition tells the story of the birds and Toikka.

Those interested in the history of Nuutajärvi Manor can learn about it on regularly organized guided tours. Its history begins at the end of the 16th century and spans more than 400 years; tour dates are announced separately. This offers another historical perspective to complement a glass-focused visit, without conflating the exhibition with the history of the manor.

Flowers, views, and time by the water

In Pölkinvuori, a guided 1 km nature trail passes through the Flower Park and Forest Garden before reaching an observation platform at an elevation of 163 meters. In spring and early summer, 400,000 bulb flowers bloom there; the exact flowering period may vary. The seasonal flowers give the walk a different character from the views of the gardens and landscape from the platform. If you would like to take a break during your visit, Picnic Hill has several groups of tables and a hut for up to 15 people. Reservation terms may change.

Another viewpoint in Pölkinvuori looks out over a forested horizon stretching more than 40 kilometers. The observation platform and the horizon are two specific reasons to consider the area a nature destination even outside the flowering season. When planning, you can decide whether seasonal flowers, views across the landscape, or a break outdoors matter most to you.

There are also different places to visit by the water. Nuutajärvi’s swimming beach lies on the shore of Lake Rutajärvi, 700 meters from the glass village. The nature tower at Nuutajärvi is a separate attraction: built in 2019, it is on the lakeshore on the opposite side of Nuutajärventie from the glass village and is accessible on foot from there. Near the reeds, it is best to approach quietly. If you prefer a clearly defined hike, Airanteen askellus is an approximately 6 km, easy-to-walk, signposted circular trail between Nuutajärvi Glass Village and Kajabaca Winery.

On the shore of Lake Kortejärvi, another nature tower offers a birdwatching point and a place to rest. In the village center of Urjala, an accessible nature trail leads to the Laukeela lean-to shelter. Each place offers something different: birdwatching and a rest stop at Lake Kortejärvi, a nature trail with a shelter in the village center, and the circular trail between the glass village and the winery. These different destinations give you the flexibility to include nature in your trip as a walk, a viewpoint, or a break for wildlife watching.

Literary landmarks and routes through Urjala

Urjala is also connected with the writer Väinö Linna. The annual Pentinkulman päivät is a major national literary event; it has been held in his hometown since 1978. The event offers a way to experience literature as a recurring part of cultural life.

The guided Väinö Linna Route offers a different literary perspective. It passes through landscapes that provided the setting for the trilogy “Täällä Pohjantähden alla” and began in Urjala. The connection is both literary and geographical: the route links its starting point in Urjala with the landscapes that played a role in the trilogy.

If you would rather explore Urjala by road, consider the national Taikayö Tourist Route: within the municipality, it loops around Lake Rutajärvi; it also runs from Urjala through Punkalaidun to Huittinen. The loop around the lake and the route through the named places describe different aspects of the same tourist route. When choosing, consider whether you are interested in the lakeside loop within the municipality or the connection through the places mentioned.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel interests

The experiences described range from glass art and factory history to literature, flowers, views, and birdwatching. If you are especially interested in glass, the collection, glassworks, and Lintukoto offer different perspectives on Nuutajärvi. Nature experiences include the trails and viewpoints in Pölkinvuori, the circular trail between the glass village and the winery, and the lakeside observation spots. Literature lovers can consider the event and guided route as different ways to explore Väinö Linna’s connection with Urjala.

Focus your search on what matters most to you, and put together the cultural, scenic, or literary experiences that appeal to you.

Discover more destinations

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Frequently asked questions about Urjala

What can you see at the Prykäri Glass Museum?

The museum displays a representative collection of glass objects made in Nuutajärvi, dating from the 19th century to the present day. An audio guide in Finnish, Swedish, and English is included in the admission price.

What trails are there in Pölkinvuori?

A guided nature trail is 1 km long and passes through the Flower Park and Forest Garden to an observation platform at an elevation of 163 meters. Airanteen askellus, by contrast, is an approximately 6 km, easy-to-walk, signposted circular trail between Nuutajärvi Glass Village and Kajabaca Winery.

Where is Nuutajärvi’s swimming beach?

The swimming beach is on the shore of Lake Rutajärvi, 700 meters from the glass village. It is not the same as the nature tower on the shore of Lake Nuutajärvi.

What is Urjala’s connection with Väinö Linna?

Pentinkulman päivät is an annual, major national literary event held in Väinö Linna’s hometown since 1978. The guided Väinö Linna Route passes through landscapes that provided the setting for his trilogy “Täällä Pohjantähden alla” and began in Urjala.

Where can you go birdwatching?

The nature tower at Lake Kortejärvi offers a birdwatching point and a place to rest on the lakeshore. For a different nature outing, an accessible nature trail in the village center of Urjala leads to the Laukeela lean-to shelter.

To the overview of the wider region: Pirkanmaa.