Nurmijärvi: Discover Kivi’s traces and trails

Nurmijärvi offers cultural sites closely connected with Aleksis Kivi and various ways to include art, local history, and nature in your travel plans. In Kirkonkylä, you’ll find the writer’s statue and the wooden church; the library has a room with literature about him. There are also exhibitions and hiking trails of varying lengths and with different focuses. What you’d like to discover during your stay can therefore be a good starting point when choosing your accommodation.

Nurmijärvi at a glance

• The bronze statue of Aleksis Kivi in Kirkonkylä was created by Aukusti Veuro in 1934.
• The wooden church in Kirkonkylä, Nurmijärven kirkko, was inaugurated in 1793.
• The Kivi Room in the library preserves first editions and literature about Aleksis Kivi.
• Galleria Ville mainly hosts exhibitions by professional visual artists.
• The outdoor trail between Kirkonkylä and Myllykoski is about four kilometres long; the Seitsemän veljeksen route extends for about 33 kilometres within the municipality.

Aleksis Kivi in Kirkonkylä

Those interested in Aleksis Kivi will find several specific points of connection in Kirkonkylä. Dating from 1934, the statue commemorates the writer; as a bronze sculpture by Aukusti Veuro, it links Kivi’s name to a named work and artist. Nurmijärven kirkko is also part of the area’s history: the wooden church was inaugurated in 1793 and is known as the church where Kivi was confirmed. This connection makes it interesting to visitors who want to explore the writer not only through books but also through the history of the place.

In the Kirkonkylä library, the Kivi Room adds a literary dimension to this historical connection. It preserves first editions of Kivi’s works, as well as scholarly literature and other books about him. The sites therefore have different focuses: the church is linked to a biographical event, while the library room brings together works by and literature about Kivi. Together, they offer visitors interested in culture a variety of subjects to explore during a stay in Nurmijärvi.

Discover art and collections

Galleria Ville is an exhibition space in Nurmijärvi’s main library. It is located near the bus station and services in the centre of Kirkonkylä. The gallery mainly hosts exhibitions by professional visual artists. The Nurmijärvi Museum, the Nurmijärvi Art Association, and the local art school also hold regular exhibitions there. Its location provides a useful landmark when you’re planning to include cultural attractions and the centre of Kirkonkylä in your visit.

Nurmijärvi-Taiteen Museo offers a different perspective: its Aleksis Kivi section contains more than 300 volumes of Kivi’s works in various languages. The museum also has a photographic collection dating from the 1960s onwards, offering a cross-section of Nurmijärvi’s more recent history. Those interested in everyday life and local history will find other topics there, including war memorabilia, objects, handicrafts, and literature from Nurmijärvi. The collections on display also include items left behind by the first pharmaceutical factory established in Finland, which was founded in Nurmijärvi.

Another focus is on crafts: the museum displays cobalt-blue and gold-patinated objects from the Savitorppa ceramics workshop. Nurmijärvi-Taiteen Museo also regularly hosts exhibitions and lectures on a range of topics. When choosing a cultural activity, you can therefore focus on different interests: Kivi and literature, more recent local history, art, or specific collections. Galleria Ville, in turn, focuses mainly on exhibitions of visual art.

Hiking trails and planning your stay

The information about these two routes helps give you a general idea of their lengths, though they are not the same trail. The outdoor trail between Kirkonkylä and Myllykoski is about four kilometres long in total. The Seitsemän veljeksen route runs through the municipality of Nurmijärvi and is about 33 kilometres long. It is suitable for short day trips as well as multi-day hikes. In addition to hiking and excursions, cross-country skiing and cycling are also possible on parts of the route.

There are rest areas and food, washing, and overnight accommodation facilities along the Seitsemän veljeksen route. It passes through Kaanaan Forest, which is now a nature reserve. This information refers to the route within the municipality. For planning purposes, it’s helpful to consider the different focuses: the outdoor trail is a clearly defined link between Kirkonkylä and Myllykoski, while the longer municipal route accommodates different ways of travelling and multi-day hikes.

When looking for accommodation, it’s best to base your plans on the focus of your stay: would you like to explore the cultural sites in Kirkonkylä or set aside more time for activities along the longer route? For finding your way around the centre, Galleria Ville’s location near the bus station and services is a useful landmark.

For more destinations, you can also discover Vantaa, Skuru, Lohja, Lapinjärvi, Kirkkonummi, Savijoki, Hyvinkää, and Espoo.

Frequently asked questions about Nurmijärvi

Where is the statue of Aleksis Kivi?

The bronze statue is in Kirkonkylä. Aukusti Veuro created it in 1934.

What can you see in the Kivi Room?

The room in the Kirkonkylä library preserves first editions of Kivi’s works, as well as scholarly literature and other literature about him.

How long is the Seitsemän veljeksen route?

The hiking route is about 33 kilometres long within the municipality of Nurmijärvi. It is suitable for short day trips or multi-day hikes.

How long is the outdoor trail between Kirkonkylä and Myllykoski?

The trail is about four kilometres long in total.

What can visitors expect at Galleria Ville?

Galleria Ville is an exhibition space in Nurmijärvi’s main library. It mainly hosts exhibitions by professional visual artists; three local institutions also hold regular exhibitions there.

For the overarching travel overview: Uusimaa.