Porvoon museo

About the museum

Porvoon museo was founded in 1896 and is one of Finland’s oldest museums. It is run by the Porvoon museoyhdistys ry. The museum also serves as the regional responsibility museum for Eastern Uusimaa, whose area includes Askola, Lapinjärvi, Loviisa, Myrskylä, Pukkila, Pornainen, Porvoo and Sipoo.

The exhibition spaces are in Old Porvoo, on the edge of Raatihuoneentori (Town Hall Square). The Old Town Hall is the oldest surviving town hall in Finland. Across three floors, the exhibitions tell the story of the town and its residents from the 19th century onwards, the history of the Town Hall itself, and the lives of the people of Porvoo and its surroundings across eight different eras. There are also art exhibitions, including works by Albert Edelfelt, Ville Vallgren and Johan Knutson, as well as material on AB Iris furniture and ceramics and on the silver and design works of Saara Hopea-Untracht.

The Holm House was built in the 1760s for a wealthy merchant. On its upper floor, the Holm Merchant’s Home is furnished as the home of a well-to-do 18th-century burgher and shows the everyday life of the Holm family who built the house. The museum also looks after the J. L. Runeberg home; the City of Porvoo is responsible for opening it to the public.

Highlights

• Finland’s oldest surviving town hall
• Holm Merchant’s Home from the 18th century
• Art by Edelfelt, Vallgren and Knutson
• Life and celebrations in Porvoo from the 19th century to the present day
• Care of the J. L. Runeberg home

Permanent exhibitions

• Porvoolaista arkea ja juhlaa – The permanent exhibition on the second floor of the Old Town Hall tells the history of the town and its residents from the 19th century onwards.
• Raatihuoneen tarina – This exhibition follows the history of Finland’s oldest surviving town hall from the 18th century to the present day.
• Holmin kauppiaskoti – The first floor of the Holm House is furnished as the home of a well-to-do 18th-century burgher and presents the everyday life of the Holm family who built the house.

Founded

1896

Operated by

Porvoon museoyhdistys ry

Admission & discounts

Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) is accepted. Admission is also free for press card holders, ICOM members and students of museum studies.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum buildings date from the 18th century, and the square and the streets leading to it are cobbled. Five steps lead to the front door of the Old Town Hall. The two ground-floor exhibitions have no stairs; the basement exhibition is reached by seven steps and the upper floors by 19 steps, some with handrails. There is no lift and no public toilet. The front door of the Holm House has five steps, followed by seven more just inside. The back door is about 50 m from the front door, at the top of a fairly steep cobbled hill, and a ramp leads from there to the museum shop and the ground-floor exhibition and workshop space. The upper-floor exhibition is reached by 20 steps with a handrail. The public toilets are in the basement of the Holm House, 18 steps away. Guide dogs, assistance dogs, hearing dogs and allergy dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations: not available
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities: not available

The Old Town Hall has a children’s bingo game in which young visitors look for objects in the exhibitions. In the Holm House there are colouring portraits and a word task in which families write their own museum guide. The Konkkaronkka workshop space on the ground floor of the Holm House is not open all year round. Objects must not be touched. Pushchairs cannot be taken into the museum but can be left in the entrance hall of the Holm House. There is no changing table; the toilets are in the basement of the Holm House at the end of narrow, curved stairs.

Getting there & parking

The exhibition spaces are in Old Porvoo on the edge of Raatihuoneentori, at Välikatu 11 and Jokikatu 45.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

The museum shop is only partly available due to renovation. Coat hooks and lockable storage lockers (storage at your own risk) are in the entrance hall. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the exhibition areas.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit