Liedon Vanhalinna

About the museum

Vanhalinna is a complex in the manor setting of Linnavuori, in the national landscape of the Aura River valley. The most visible landmarks of the area are the high ancient hill fort (linnavuori), the Iron Age cemetery in the yard, the traditional field landscapes, and the manor yard, which took its present form in the early 20th century. Vanhalinna is the most extensively researched and richest-in-finds ancient castle in Finland; even objects from the Stone Age have been found on the hill fort. When Turku Castle was completed at the mouth of the River Aura, the significance of the prehistoric fortification declined. During Swedish rule Vanhalinna first became a bishop’s estate and then an enfeoffed noble estate.

Still in the 1700s and 1800s the estate was owned by the Hjelt family, founders of the Littoinen woollen mill. Mauno Wanhalinna was given the estate to manage in 1930, when the neoclassical main building of the manor centre had just been completed. After marrying in 1944, Mauno and Ester Wanhalinna began to build their home into a living museum, and in 1956 they donated the estate to the University of Turku. After the university was nationalised in 1974, Vanhalinna remained owned by the Turun Yliopistosäätiö (Turku University Foundation), which began to restore the manor’s buildings from the mid-1990s. The Liedon Vanhalinna foundation was established in 1998 to maintain the historical-ethnographic museum bearing Mauno Wanhalinna’s name.

Today Vanhalinna has a manor home museum in its 1950s style, a basic archaeological exhibition on the prehistory of the Aura River valley, an exhibition of objects from the Liedon Säästöpankki (Lieto Savings Bank), and an outdoor photo exhibition, Vanhalinnan juuret (The Roots of Vanhalinna). The site is also a popular venue for celebrations and meetings.

Highlights

• Finland’s most extensively researched ancient castle and its hill fort
• Manor home museum in its 1950s style
• Basic archaeological exhibition on the prehistory of the Aura River valley
• Iron Age cemetery and the national landscape
• Hildan puoti (Hilda’s Shop) museum shop and summer café

Permanent exhibitions

• Kartanokotimuseo – The manor home museum, which preserves the heritage of Mauno and Ester Wanhalinna, displays objects from the 1800s and 1900s in the style of the 1950s, including furniture from the University of Turku’s Phoenix.
• Ajan virtaa Aurajokilaaksossa – The basic archaeological exhibition tells of the prehistory of the Aura River valley from the Stone Age to the early Middle Ages, and of the history of the Vanhalinna hill fort and the Aittamäki cemetery.
• Liedon Säästöpankki ja säästölippaat – The exhibition, built in an old yard sauna, presents objects of the Liedon Säästöpankki and savings boxes, including a bank counter and the bank lady’s room.

Operated by

Liedon Vanhalinna -säätiö (Turun Yliopistosäätiö)

Admission & discounts

The Museokortti is accepted. School group visits cost €2 per pupil; a guided tour costs €68 per group (up to 30 pupils).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

On the outdoor guided tour of the castle hill, 200 steps are climbed to the ancient fortress.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Vanhalinna is about a 10-minute drive from Turku city centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Summer café and museum shop Hildan puoti in the basement of the main building (books, cards, local handicrafts, jewellery, glass and ceramics). The Museokortti can also be bought on site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Hire of celebration and meeting spaces: +358 10 292 7093, vanhalinna-myynti@utu.fi.

Plan your visit