Tytyri Elämyskaivos

About the museum

Limestone has been quarried at Tytyri in Lohja since 1897. Quarrying moved partly underground in 1947 and became entirely underground in 1956. The mine is still in operation, and limestone is now quarried hundreds of metres deep. The tunnel network runs under Lake Lohjanjärvi and the town and is more than 60 kilometres long.

One of the quarried tunnel complexes, the -110 level, was opened to the public as a mine museum in May 1988. The idea behind it came from the mine's former director, Carl Fredrik Bäckström. The City of Lohja has been responsible for maintaining the mine museum. In 1998 the lift company Kone began using the mine's disused shaft for testing lifts for high buildings, and today visitors to the Elämyskaivos descend to the -110 level on Finland's fastest lift.

Today Tytyri Elämyskaivos is a larger attraction, with a mine history and geology exhibition, an art exhibition and a theme cave for families. The theme cave changes with the seasons: it has, for example, Rönni-peikko, Easter witches, Halloween and Christmas. The mine is +8 °C all year round.

Highlights

• Lift ride to a depth of about 100 metres into the limestone mine
• Mine history and geology exhibition
• Art exhibition in the mine tunnels
• Seasonal theme cave for families
• Self-guided visit or guided tour

Permanent exhibition

• Kaivoshistoriallinen ja geologinen näyttely – The exhibition tells of the history of the Tytyri mine, the work of the miners and the geology of limestone. The geology section was prepared by the Geological Survey of Finland.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Lohjan kaupunki

Admission & discounts

The €18 admission ticket covers the mine history exhibition, the art exhibition and the theme cave. Discounts do not apply to guide services or to guided public tours. Tickets are sold on Netticket and at the customer service of the Lohja City Hall, and remaining tickets are also sold at the mine's cash desk. The Museum Card is not accepted as a means of payment; the Kaiku card can be used to pay for a self-guided tour.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

The site is a real mine environment and is not fully step-free: the lift building has a steep stairway. The guided tour walks just under a kilometre on level gravel ground, and the route has two flights of stairs, gentle steps and spiral stairs. The spiral stairs can be avoided by walking through the theme cave to the main tunnel.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

The visit suits all ages; the helmet fits even the smallest visitors, one-year-olds included. There is a theme cave for families, and a tour for children is offered to groups. Children's birthday packages are available. The Halloween theme cave is recommended for those aged 13 and over.

Getting there & parking

From Helsinki, take the E18 and at junction 23 follow road 25 to the centre of Lohja, then via Karstuntie to Kuilukatu. From Turku, leave the E18 at junction 22, follow Hossantie to its end and continue onto Karstuntie.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The surface visitor centre has customer service, ticket sales, a café, a souvenir shop and toilets. Helmets are lent out at the visitor centre.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Tytyri hall is a party and meeting venue in the mine (temperature about +20 °C). Weddings and children's birthday parties are also held at the site.

Plan your visit