Postimäki
The open-air museum of Ilola village, with 18 small hill cottages, one of Finland's best-preserved areas of hill-cottager settlement.
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About the museum
Postimäki is a museum and cultural area in Ilola village, about nine kilometres north-east of Porvoo. The whole hill is a museum area with 18 small hill cottages (mäkitupa) dating from the 18th century onwards, and the Museovirasto (Finnish Heritage Agency) has designated it as a nationally significant built cultural environment. It is one of Finland's best-preserved authentic hill-cottager areas.
The area lies along the old Kuninkaantie (King's Road). Postimäki got its name in the 17th century, when a postal service was organised in the Swedish realm and an inn was established in Ilola: when a mailbag arrived from the post, the farmer responsible for the post carried it on to the next post farm. Until 1889 three farms stood on the hill, which were moved elsewhere in the village in the general land partition (isojako), and only the hill cottages remained. The people who lived there did not mainly earn their living from farming; they were often craftspeople.
Today the hill hosts an open-air museum, the Kahvitupa summer café, a shop, Galleria Postimäki and a straw museum. The interior of the café was designed by the artist Heimo Valve in 1970. The area has also hosted summer theatre, music and craft days, and guided tours and school-group visits are part of its activities.
Highlights
- Museum area of 18 hill cottages along the Kuninkaantie
- Winter's cottage (Winterin tupa), smoke sauna and straw museum
- Eva's cottage (Eva-tädin tupa) and Ilola's first school
- Kahvitupa summer café and shop
- Galleria Postimäki and arena theatre
Permanent exhibition
- Postimäen ulkoilmamuseo – The whole hill is a museum area with 18 small hill cottages. On display are, among others, Winterin tupa, a smoke sauna, the straw museum, Eva-tädin tupa and Kahvitupa.
- Operated by
- Postimäen kannatusyhdistys (Postbackens garantiförening)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €2free up to age 6 · Ages 7–17 pay €2; under-7s enter free. |
Admission applies during opening hours; no fee is charged for the area itself. Card payment is the preferred method of payment.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Separate short guided tours are available for school groups. The area is also suitable for a picnic.
Getting there & parking
Postimäki is located at Vanha Viipurintie 12 in Ilola village, about 9 km north-east of Porvoo.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Summer café Kahvitupa and a shop selling products from local craftspeople.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups are held from 1 May to 30 September in Finnish and Swedish: the history of the Postimäki cottages (about 1 hour), and for school classes about 30 minutes. The tour covers, among other places, Winterin tupa, the smoke sauna, the straw museum and Eva-tädin tupa. Bookings to info@postbacken.fi or by telephone. |
