The first attraction is the Paimio Sanatorium, which marked the beginning of Alvar Aalto’s international career. Alvar Aalto founded the design of the tuberculosis sanatorium completed in 1933 on the surrounding natural environment, fluent everyday operation and the comprehensive well-being of the patients.
The guided tour introduces you to the tuberculosis sanatorium located amidst a pine forest. The entire building with its furniture, interior design solutions and environment, grouped in several parts according to use, was designed by the architect couple Aino and Alvar Aalto. The sanatorium area served as home for the patients and also for some of the personnel. After the guided tour, lunch is served at the nearby Kaimalan Karhulampi restaurant.
The tour continues to Kauttua in Eura. At the Kauttua Ruukinpuisto Works, you can sense how the legacy of the family-owned enterprise Ahlström interlaces with the everyday life of the residents of the industrial area. This is reflected in the social dimension and human scale of housing architecture by Alvar Aalto.
In Kauttua, a guide leads us to visit the Terraced House originally designed for the senior clerical employees of the Kauttua Paper Mill. Alongside the Terraced House built in a slope in the historic industrial area, the tour presents other residential buildings designed by Alvar and Aino Aalto in the area, and we can also enjoy the atmosphere of the riverside sauna. In conjunction with the visits of the Terraced House and the riverside sauna, you can buy items such as an Artek product of your choice as a souvenir.
Supper is served in the old manor house of the former industrial estate or at the riverside sauna. Both of these provide local food such as game and fish dishes throughout the year. Accommodation takes place in Villa Aalto, a former residence of female office employees.
Those who wish can bathe in the riverside sauna and washroom building designed by Alvar Aalto, located beside the beautiful River Eurajoki. At the same you can enjoy a uniquely soothing foot bath with Finnish wild herbs.