The town of Forssa, sitting astride a river in the province of Häme, makes an interesting travel destination, with its lovely red-brick factory milieu and museums illuminating the daily lives of its workers.
Situated midway between Turku and Hämeenlinna, Forssa is a historical factory town built on both sides of the River Loimijoki. The town, known particularly for its textile industry, has evolved from an old red brick Spinning Mill area into a versatile tourist destination with a lush riverside environment that attracts visitors from near and far. The most interesting nearby destinations are related to the countryside and horse management, a good example being the Equine College of Ypäjä. Water lovers can spend a happy and entertaining holiday in Forssa at Vesihelmi indoor waterpark.
Forssa's history dates back to the mid-1800s, when the manufacturer A. W. Wahren founded spinning and weaving mills on the River Loimijoki. The growth and even the name of the modern town derive from those textile mills, so their impact on Forssa has been very significant. From the viewpoint of the modern traveller, the old Spinning Mill area is a lovely place to visit, and an interesting and inexpensive Forssa holiday can be spent just touring there. It can be difficult to remember the tough daily lives of the workers while strolling in the beautiful scenery presented by the banks of the River Loimijoki.
You can find out more about the factory area and the lives of the workers by visiting Forssa Museum, where a permanent exhibition "City of Colourful Cloth" tells interesting stories about everyday factory life. Another interesting museum in the Spinning Mill area is Forssa Natural History Museum, which focuses on the wonders of nature in South-western Häme rather than on human achievements. The museum is located in former cotton mill premises, where it displays birds and mammals in particular, with an emphasis on the importance of nature conservation in all of its exhibitions.
Your tour of Forssa continues with a stroll around the other interesting sights on the river banks. Outside the Natural History Museum, you will find the first Finnish electric tram, which transported goods between the spinning and weaving mills. The successfully restored Yhtiönpuisto Park is a great place to relax in the local manner, and if you are lucky, the popular park might even be hosting a fun event such as a rock concert. Continue along the river and you will come to Forssa Theatre of Moving Pictures, which was originally founded in 1906 and still arranges both individual performances and the annual Forssa Silent Film Festival.
If you do not yet know as much as you would wish about the everyday lives of the factory workers, head for Ronttismäki Factory Workers Museum in the old workers' residential area. The museum is open in the summer, with three buildings demonstrating the living conditions of ordinary working people in different periods. You can then go to the other side of Forssa to refresh yourself at Vesihelmi indoor waterpark, which is much more than just an ordinary public swimming pool. In addition to regular swimming pools, you can enjoy, among other things, a wave pool, a cold pool and two Jacuzzis.
After your fun-filled town break in Forssa, you can explore the town's immediate surroundings. The Equine College of Ypäjä covers more than 300 hectares, and besides organising training in the horse industry, it offers competitive and other events, as well as meetings and adventure services. The local countryside is best seen by visiting Elonkierto Agricultural Exhibition Park, where a 1.25 mile walk passes through a cultural landscape shaped by agriculture. The versatile Forssa region offers attractions for all kinds of travellers.
