Möhkön ruukki
The former lake-ore ironworks of Finland's easternmost village, in Ilomantsi, whose exhibitions tell of the ironworks era, military history and log-driving work.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Möhkö ironworks was built in the wilderness in the eastern part of Ilomantsi, on the edge of the Möhkönkoski rapids on the Koitajoki river. Carl G. Nygren, born in Ilomantsi, received permission to establish the ironworks in 1838, and the Petersburg-born Adolf von Rauch had the factory built in 1847–1849. The raw material was lake ore dredged from the bottoms of about a hundred lakes, the fuel was cheap charcoal, and the power came from the water power of the Möhkönkoski rapids.
The ironworks was at times the largest ironworks in Finland and gave work to as many as hundreds of people. A village of about 600 inhabitants grew around it, with a shop, a school, a library and a reading room. Operations ceased in 1908 because of the remote location and the falling price of mountain ore, and W. Gutzeit & Co bought the factory and the forests.
After the ironworks era, the people of Möhkö lived from forestry and log-driving work, and the administrative headquarters of Enso-Gutzeit was for a long time the Pyyting main building. The Second World War badly damaged the village. Today the ironworks site is a museum area, with exhibitions in Pyyting and in the former shop building Ambari. The area also has a canal system restored by Museovirasto (the Finnish Heritage Agency), an old smithy and the ruins of a blast furnace.
Highlights
- Finland's easternmost village and a former large lake-ore ironworks
- Permanent exhibitions in Pyyting and Ambari
- Blast furnace ruins and a canal system restored by Museovirasto
- Smithing demonstrations in the old smithy in summer
- Savotta café Möhkön Manta in an old residential barge
Permanent exhibition
- Möhkön ruukin perusnäyttelyt – Pyyting and Ambari present the ironworks era, Möhkö's military history and the time of the great logging and log-driving operations.
- Operated by
- Ilomantsin Museosäätiö
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €8children aged 7–15 and pensioners |
| Children & teens | €8free up to age 6 · Ages 7–15; under-7s enter free. |
| Seniors | €8 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €8 per personGroup members aged 7–15 pay €6 per person. |
| Guided tour for a group (per group, summer) | €90Duration about 1 h 15 min. |
| Opening fee outside opening hours (per group) | €50 |
In winter (1 September–31 May) the adult admission fee is €7 and the fee for children and pensioners is €5; the group guided tour in winter costs €140. The Museokortti is accepted. Edenred, Smartum and ePassi cultural benefits are also accepted.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Savotta café Möhkön Manta operates in an old residential barge; the Ruukinpuoti museum shop is connected to the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | For groups there is a guided tour (at least 10 people) covering the ironworks era, military history and logging work. In summer, smithing demonstrations are held in the old smithy. The Lemmenpolku trail leads from the ironworks area to Lotinankoski and to the Möhkö arboretum. |
