Varalan liikuntamuseo

About the museum

The Varalan urheiluopisto in Tampere is Finland's oldest sports institute and was founded in 1909 to promote women's physical education. For a long time the heart of the institute was a villa completed in 1892, which the manufacturer Henrik Liljeroos had built and Karl Snellman designed. In 1971 what was called Finland's only sports museum opened in the villa; the opening was celebrated in June 1971. The museum founded by the association was realised through voluntary work (talkoot).

Villa Varala was restored in 2010–2011. Today the villa's three meeting rooms are available for customer use, and the top floor serves as the museum. The museum's collection includes sports equipment, gymnastics costumes and photographs, which tell especially of the history of women's gymnastics. On display is also the cross-country skiing outfit of Olympic competitor Lydia Wideman-Lehtonen from the 1952 Oslo Olympics.

Highlights

• Villa Varala from 1892
• History of women's gymnastics and physical education
• Gymnastics costumes, sports equipment and photographs
• Olympic cross-country skiing outfit from 1952 by Lydia Wideman-Lehtonen

Permanent exhibition

• Liikuntamuseon näyttely – On the third floor of Villa Varala, the history of physical education and especially women's gymnastics is presented through objects, costumes and photographs.

Founded

1971

Operated by

Varalan säätiö

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The Varalan urheiluopisto is at Varalankatu 36 in Tahmela.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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