e-Car Adventures: Best of Finnish culture in Jyväskylä Region

13.01.2025

Photos: (c) Visit Jyväskylä Region and Julia Kivelä

The Jyväskylä Region is renowned for its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty. It boasts the largest collection of Alvar Aalto’s architecture in the world and features the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petäjävesi Old Church.

Take the time and will to experience destinations at your own pace. This is not a guided trip, so you can drive where and when you want to. All destinations are located within an hour drive from Jyväskylä which allows you to visit them separately, if you wish. Experience the freedom of travel by Avis e-Car Adventures.

Day 1: Keuruu

Start your cultural journey in the small and idyllic city of Keuruu which is located in the embrace of lakes approximately 60 km from Jyväskylä. If you arrive from south (Tampere or Helsinki airports) or want to connect this road trip with our Cultural tour from Tampere, take the road 348 from Mänttä-Vilppula to Keuruu and admire its green sceneries and wide open views (as described in the route map).

The historical centre of Keuruu offers you charming, 100-year-old wooden buildings and skilful artisans. This area, aptly named Old Keuruu, brings old churches, museums and exhibitions to your reach, telling stories from ancient times to modern days. Park your car at Old Keuruu parking area and start your tour by foot (Kangasmannilantie 2-4, 42700 Keuruu). https://www.vanhakeuruu.fi/english/

Here you can visit the Museum of Keuruu which is located in an old stone barn, showcasing works of local artists. Stop by at the museum shop and pamper yourself and your friends with versatile souvenirs. https://www.visitkeuruu.fi/en/service/exhibitions-of-the-museum-of-keuruu/ Keuruu Local History Museum takes you back in time to traditional lifestyle and courtyard in 19th century Finland. https://www.visitkeuruu.fi/palvelu/keuruun-kotiseutumuseo/ Don’t miss the old Railway Station. Decorated with wood cuttings, this station has been designed by architect Bruno Granholm and crowned as the most beautiful railway station in Finland – you will see why! Nowadays, it hosts some touching collections of toys and merchandises of yesteryear (by appointment only). https://www.vanhakeuruu.fi/english/culture-and-history/

Enhance your time travel in Keuruu churches. Keuruu Old Church dates back to 1758. This magnificent wooden church is surrounded by a yard lined with stone walls and gate rooms, its rich paintings sharing stories of faith, hopes and fears of the past generations. https://www.visitkeuruu.fi/en/service/the-old-church-of-keuruu/ And don’t let the name of Keuruu New Church fool you - this Neo-Gothic church, designed by architect Teodor Granstedt, was completed in 1892. The two altarpieces of the red brick church are painted by the famous Eero Järnefelt.

After all this enchanting history, you must be hungry – for food this time. Pay a visit to restaurants and bars at Keuruu city centre. Next to the new Church, there is a café called Iidan Unelma (Iida’s Dream) serving sweet and savoury pastry with coffee and tea. Or wander a bit further and visit Maalaisvakka where you can buy local delicacies to eat on site or take away (Keuruuntie 19, Keuruu). https://www.visitkeuruu.fi/en/service/maalaisvakka-local-food-and-products/

Now head backwards to the blue shimmering lake and an old paddle-wheeler ship at the harbour (Kangasmannilantie 18, 42700 Keuruu). What would be a better way to enjoy a Finnish summer day than to cruise on the waves of one of Finland’s hundreds of thousands of lakes. M/S Elias Lönnrot, named after the collector of Finland’s national epic Kalevala, takes you to Lake Keurusselkä’s mixture of open water and narrows spotted by hundreds of islands. https://www.visitkeuruu.fi/en/service/paddlewheeler-elias-lonnrot/

Spend your night at Hotel Keurusselkä (Keurusseläntie 134, 42700 Keuruu). This lakeside hotel pampers you with spa and outside activities. Play a round of beach volley or rent a SUP board for further exploring the lake. In weekends, you don’t want to miss a original Finnish pastime that draws you to the dance floor – a traditional dance ball where band plays wistful tango or bouncy polka. https://www.hotelkeurusselka.fi/en/

1. day route at Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/b67THndrUgnnw1Gf7
Keuruu walking map at Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dp2d2JkbEY21ZQBu9

Day 2: Petäjävesi and Jyväskylä

Wave goodbye to Keuruu and head east on route 23. Halfway to Jyväskylä, hit the brake and pay visit to Petäjävesi Old Church (Vanhankirkontie 9, 41900 Petäjävesi). This wooden church overlooking a beautiful strait has been built during 1763–65 and afterwards, added to the list of World Heritage Sites as a unique example of the long architectural tradition of wooden churches in the Nordic countries. https://petajavesioldchurch.fi/en/

Continue towards Jyväskylä and have a break at Kyläseppä gas station at Petäjävesi circuit for some lunch for you and charging for your e-car.

When arriving at Jyväskylä city centre, park your car around Kirkkopuisto (Church Park) by the street or in a parking hall. (Remember always to check the conditions and price for parking.) The atmospheric Church Park is one of Jyväskylä’s oldest parks – its construction started in early 19th century. In the middle of the park, adding to the atmosphere, rises Jyväskylä City Church, the first stone church in Central Finland, that was built in the middle of the old market square in 1880. https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/attractions/church-park/

Situated on the pedestrian street at the hearth of Jyväskylä and in the corner of Church Park, the Craft Museum of Finland (Kauppakatu 25, 40100 Jyväskylä) is easily accessible museum, which unobtrusive façade hides experiences for all senses and for all ages. The permanent exhibition, which delves into the tradition of Finnish handcrafting, features touching crafts and stories of handmade Finnish life from generations past to the present. Another permanent exhibition highlights Finnish folk costume traditions and craftsmanship as seen in today’s national costumes. The Museum Shop is a must-visit place for some original, handcrafted souvenirs. https://www.craftmuseum.fi/en

Continue your cultural journey by foot or by car to Jyväskylä Lutakko Harbour (Satamakatu 8, 40100 Jyväskylä). Located about 1 kilometre from the museum, the harbour is a point of recreation for the city dwellers of all ages. The harbour attracts people to enjoy sunny summer days, fun activities and varied treats to eat. Why not try the famous Finnish sauna on a floating raft, for instance? https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/attractions/jyvaskyla-harbour-in-lutakko/ If you prefer to stay on solid soil for your sauna and meal, try Restaurant Sataman Viilu. https://satamanviilu.fi/in-english/

A boat designed by Alvar Aalto, the world-famous Finnish architect, Nemo propheta in patria, is permanently on display at Jyväskylä’s Lutakko Harbour in a shelter built expressly for the craft. Alvar Aalto designed the boat to travel to his summer villa at Muuratsalo Experimental House. The wooden craft is 10 meters long and 2.5 meters wide and was built between 1954 and 1955. A miniature exhibition by the Alvar Aalto Museum has been set up at Jyväskylä’s Lutakko Harbor in connection with the boat. More of Aalto’s work you will see next day.

As a culture lover, you might want to stay overnight at boutique hotel Yöpuu (Yliopistonkatu 23, 40100 Jyväskylä) where each of 26 rooms has been decorated in different style periods and named after famous Finns. Here, you can also charge your e-car overnight. https://www.hotelliyopuu.fi/en/1/Hotelliyopuu

Day 2 route at Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2hCsdTggTEAHHnYh6
Walking route in Jyväskylä at Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/geoqvaNzj3ptNWvy9

Day 3: Following in Alvar Aalto’s footprints

Known for his user-friendly, functional design and natural materials, Alvar Aalto is the world’s best-known Finnish architect, and Jyväskylä boasts with more Aalto’s building complexes than any other place in the world. Hence, this beautiful city in Central Finland is the right spot to plunge into Aalto’s genius works.

First in the morning, head to Aalto2 museum centre by foot or by car (Alvar Aallon katu 7, 40600 Jyväskylä). it is a unique meeting place of architecture, design and cultural heritage, and it fulfils his wish to create a forum to bring together a variety of art forms. It combines two buildings designed by Aalto: the Museum of Central Finland and the Alvar Aalto Museum. Enjoy the cozy atmosphere at Aalto2 Café, explore design treasures at Aalto2 Shop, and experience the impressive exhibitions at the Alvar Aalto Museum and the Museum of Central Finland. https://aalto2.museum/en/home/

After the clean functionalism of Aalto’s works, take a step into the past at Toivola Old Courtyard (Cygnaeuksenkatu 2, 40100 Jyväskylä). It is a unique 19th century craftsman’s courtyard with a fascinating history. To this day, the courtyard is home to high-quality services. Once you step through the gates, you’ll find a wide range of history combined with the present day, art, culture, events, craftsmanship, kindness, atmosphere, food, and drink. Toivola is located right in the city centre of Jyväskylä, but that is quickly forgotten once you’re inside the gates. Leave all your troubles at the gate and step into the unhurried idyll, where you can relax and unwind. https://toivolanpiha.fi/en/toivola-old-courtyard/

Now hop in your e-car and head south via routes E63 and 6110 to Säynätsalo Town Hall (Parviaisentie 9, 40900 Jyväskylä). This remarkable building is one of architect Alvar Aalto’s most significant works. It enjoys a position all of its own in the history of modern architecture. Säynätsalo town hall is a building with many functions: municipal administration (until 1993), library, residential spaces, business premises and guest rooms. Aalto designed the town hall as a complete work of art, and this can be seen in the details and in the furniture designed specifically for the building. https://www.jyvaskyla.fi/en/jyvaskyla-information/saynatsalo-townhall and https://tavolobianco.com/

For dinner, drive to historical Kuokkalan Kartano Manor a few kilometres outside Jyväskylä city centre (Hämeenpohjantie 50, 40520 Jyväskylä). Olivia Mathilda “Wivi” Lönn was the first woman to lead her own architectural firm in Finland, and Kuokkalan kartano, completed in Jyväskylä in 1904, was the first building designed by her. Combining the features of the future classicism and national romance, the Manor was built for Commercial Counsellor Julius Johnson as the residence for his family. The Manor was located right next to the buildings of the Johnson-owned sawmill and at the time was also one of the largest farms in the region. The magnificently decorated mansion was the home of a family of merchants for several decades. Nowadays, the historical building hosts a unique first-class restaurant. https://kuokkalankartano.com/en/front-page/

After this delicious dinner, your cultural tour in Jyväskylä region has come to an end. You can choose to stay one more night in Jyväskylä before continuing your journey in Finland or visit some other themed road trips by us. Explore more route suggestions here: https://autotarpeeseen.net/en/autotarpeesen-english-blog?tag_id=4

Day 3 route at Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cX3F8NyKRkpyZSVJ7

Facts on this adventure:

Total length of the route: 215 km when departing and returning in Jyväskylä
Time needed: 3 days is our recommendation for the full roadtrip. You can also pick separate destinations or just a part of the route and alter it according to your taste.
Charging stations: Most gas stations alongside the route, Keuruu supermarkets, parking halls in Jyväskylä
Who the route is for: All those who want to experience the traditional Finnish culture at its most genuine. In this roadtrip, you will see impressive examples of Finnish arts and traditions from the 17th century wood artisans to 20th century designers and architects representing the world-known Finnish and Nordic design and figures.

Please note! This is an example of roadtrip in Jyväskylä Region. No preliminary bookings have been made – you are requested to contact the service providers yourself for appropriate days. Avis is not responsible for any changes in the offering of other service providers.

For e-car and other car rentals, please contact www.avis.fi/en
More information on our e-car fleet and driving an e-car, please visit also https://one.avisworld.com/en_GB/Avis-ecaradventures/

This themed roadtrip has been set up in cooperation with Visit Jyväskylä Region. More information on the region is available at: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/

Photos: (c) Visit Jyväskylä Region and Julia Kivelä

General Terms and Conditions

Ideal OÜ in Estonia, Ideal Services SIA in Latvia and UAB Litideal in Lithuania (each company is hereinafter referred to as the Renter) are the franchisees of the Avis, Budget and Payless brands in the Baltics. These general terms and conditions shall apply to all short-term rental agreements concluded with Renter.

1. Rental Period

1.1. The Lessee shall rent the vehicle for the period stated in the rental agreement. Upon agreement of the Parties, the rental period can be extended. Before extending the rental agreement, Renter shall submit a price list for extending the rental period to the Lessee, and the Lessee shall confirm his/her acceptance to the price list in writing by his/her signature or via email. An extension of the rental period for less than 30 days can be agreed by e-mail. Any extension of the rental period more than 30 days shall be executed in writing or digitally signed.

2. Delivery and Return of Vehicle

2.1. Upon delivery of the vehicle to the Lessee, the Lessee shall inspect the vehicle to make sure that the vehicle is in good technical condition, has no faults, and the interior of the vehicle is clean. The Lessee shall verify whether any damage visible upon delivery of the vehicle is recorded on the vehicle’s technical condition sheet. Later complaints about any damage to the vehicle shall not be accepted and any such damage is deemed to be caused by the Lessee and shall be compensated to Renter.

2.2. The Lessee shall return the vehicle at the place, on the date and at the time indicated in the rental agreement. Renter shall apply a 30 minute grace period at the end of the rental before the start of a new 24 hour period; if the vehicle is returned after the expiry of the grace period, a full day rental will be charged.

2.3. If the Lessee fails to return the vehicle at the time and place agreed or immediately after the premature termination of the agreement, Renter is entitled to declare the vehicle to be missing and to use all of the powers arising from the law to regain possession of the vehicle; among other things, the Lessee authorises Renter to immediately take possession of the vehicle (including removal of the vehicle). Should Renter incur any additional expenses in relation to the above, the Lessee shall compensate Renter for those expenses. In the case of removal of the vehicle, Renter shall use its best efforts to ensure the preservation of the belongings left in the vehicle by the Lessee; however, Renter shall not be held liable for any damage caused to such belongings during removal or later.

2.4. The Lessee shall return the vehicle in the same condition as when it was delivered to the Lessee, allowing for normal wear and tear. The Lessee shall return the vehicle along with all tires, equipment and documents to the office of Renter where the vehicle was picked up or to a place designated in the rental agreement.

2.5. The vehicle shall be delivered to the Lessee with a full fuel tank and the Lessee shall also return the vehicle with a full fuel tank, except if the Lessee has paid for the “prepaid fuel” option.

3. Requirements for Use of Vehicle

3.1. As the authorised user of the vehicle according to the rental agreement and holder of a valid driving license, the Lessee must know and obey the applicable traffic rules; if the Lessee violates the traffic rules, he/she shall be liable for any resulting fine or other cost.

3.2. The vehicle may be driven by a person who:

3.2.1. is specified in the rental agreement and has been holding a valid driving licence for at least one year;

3.2.2. another person added to the rental agreement by Renter at the request of the Lessee who meets the requirements applicable to a driver. The Lessee shall be fully responsible for this person and shall verify whether the person complies with the rental agreement and the general terms and conditions.

3.3. It is prohibited to use the vehicle:

3.3.1. for carriage of passengers for commercial purposes (e.g. for providing carriage or taxi services);

3.3.2. for towing any other vehicle or trailer;

3.3.3 for carriage of goods in violation of the customs rules or for any other illegal act;

3.3.4. by a driver who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs or other illegal substance;

3.3.5. by a driver who does not hold a driving license of the appropriate class for the vehicle;

3.3.6. for racing or training for racing competitions;

3.3.7. for driving lessons;

3.3.8. for driving outside roadways.

3.4. Smoking inside the vehicle is prohibited. In the case of violation of this requirement, the Lessee shall pay the cleaning fee described in section 4.3.7 below.

3.5. When leaving the vehicle, the Lessee shall take all necessary precautions (e.g. lock the doors of the vehicle) to avoid possible accidents or theft. The Lessee shall also take the keys and documents (registration certificate and other documents) related to the vehicle with him/her when leaving the vehicle.

4. Charges

4.1. At the time concluding the rental agreement, a hold shall be placed on the Lessee’s credit card in the amount of the rental fee (described in section 4.3.1) and surcharges (described in section 4.3.2) plus 30%.

4.2. Renter is entitled to unilaterally alter the rental charge within the rental period, giving the Lessee at least one month’s advance notice. If the new price is not acceptable to the Lessee, the Lessee is entitled to premature termination of the rental agreement.

4.3. The Lessee shall pay the following charges to Renter:

4.3.1. a rental charge according to the applicable rates calculated based on the number of rental days and the mileage covered. If there is a delay of more than 30 minutes in returning the vehicle compared to the time of return agreed upon in the rental agreement, the Lessee shall pay for the rental period calculated based on the actual time of return. If the Lessee returns the vehicle before the end of the rental period, Renter is entitled to request the payment of the full rental charge set out in the rental agreement;

4.3.2. all extra charges (insurance, delivery charge, etc.) along with the applicable VAT to which the Lessee has agreed when signing the rental agreement;

4.3.3. a charge for refilling the fuel tank if the Lessee fails to meet the obligation established in section 2.5 above;

4.3.4. a fine for driving the vehicle in a state of intoxication, for violating the traffic rules or for other illegal activities if the fine is collected from Renter, including in cases where Renter is fined for permitting a person not entitled to drive motor vehicles to drive the vehicle;

4.3.5. If the Lessee has received the requisite consent of Renter for leaving the Baltic states and the vehicle becomes unroadworthy outside the Baltic states, the Lessee shall pay all the costs related to bringing the vehicle back to the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania depending on pickup location) to the office of Renter. The rental agreement is valid until the transfer of possession of the vehicle to Renter;

4.3.6. any parking ticket submitted to Renter, delay interest, and charges for towing the vehicle to a car park due to a parking violation or other reason, plus Renter’s administration fee of 35 EUR in case of traffic fine or damage;

4.3.7. an extra cleaning charge of 200 euros if the Lessee has smoked in the car or if the interior of the car is so dirty that dry cleaning is necessary for restoring the vehicle to the same condition as at the time of rental;

4.3.8. compensation for damage caused to the vehicle if the Lessee returned the vehicle to Renter outside business hours (from 18:15 pm to 8:15 am) or in a way that it could not be inspected by the employee of Renter and Renter discovers the damage in the course of a later inspection;

4.3.9. a charge 25 euros for leaving the vehicle in the relevant general car park in Tallinn Airport, Riga Airport or in Vilnius Airport (depending on pickup location). The Lessee is entitled to leave the vehicle to the parking space allocated to Renter in the airport’s car park for rental vehicles without an extra charge.

4.3.10. Late service fee 40 EUR if the Lessee wants to receive the vehicle outside business hours of Renter (from 18:15 pm to 8:15 am).

4.4. The Lessee shall pay Renter by credit card or bank transfer. In the case of late payment of the rental charge or any other charge set out in the rental agreement and/or the general terms and conditions, the Lessee shall pay late interest of 0.2 per cent of the outstanding amount per each day of delay. In the case of late payment, any sum received shall first be applied towards interest and fines and only thereafter the principal amount of the fee. Upon failing to fulfill and/or late fulfillment of the Lessor’s contractual obligations under the rental agreement, Renter is entitled to publish information concerning the Lessee in a credit register (including but not limited to the database maintained by Creditinfo and the global database of Renter).

5. Liability

5.1. The Lessee as the possessor of the vehicle, is liable for compliance with the vehicle maintenance requirements during the rental period if the period of use of the vehicle in the rental agreement is longer than 30 days. The permissible deviation of the vehicle maintenance schedule must not exceed 300 km. The contractual penalty for exceeding the permitted deviation of the vehicle maintenance schedule is 500 EUR.

5.2. The Lessee is fully responsible for the preservation of the vehicle and all damages caused to it (incl. the risk of accidental destruction and damage to the vehicle) that has occurred before the vehicle is inspected and accepted by the Renter's employee.

5.3. If the Lessee discovers defects of the vehicle, the vehicle is involved in an accident or vandalized during the rental period, the Lessee shall immediately inform Renter thereof and shall follow the instructions of Renter on how to proceed. The Lessee is not entitled to repair any defects of the vehicle. If the Lessee fails to comply with this requirement, the Lessee shall compensate Renter for any damage (e.g. if the original parts of the vehicle have been replaced by parts of low quality).

6. Insurance

6.1. Renter shall insure the vehicle being used by the Lessee against any damage that may be caused to a third party according to the applicable law. In the case of an insured event, the terms of insurance agreed upon between Renter and its insurer shall apply. The Lessee undertakes to read the relevant insurance terms at Renter’s reception desk before entry into the rental agreement.

6.2. In case of an insured event, the Lessee shall be liable to Renter to the extent of the excess. The amount of the excess depends on the category of the vehicle and has been set out in the rental agreement. The Lessee may reduce the amount of the excess, paying an extra charge for each day of rental according to the category of the vehicle chosen by the Lessee.

6.3. Notwithstanding clause 6.2 above, insurance coverage shall not apply to the following types of damage:

6.3.1. damage caused to the interior, control system, bottom or engine compartment of the vehicle, driving with flat tires, damage caused by snow or ice (e.g. snow or ice falling from the roof of a building) or damage caused by driving outside roads designated for vehicle traffic;

6.3.2. in case the vehicle is stolen and the Lessee has not taken the car documents and/or the key with him/her when leaving the vehicle as required under section 3.5 above. If, in the event of theft of the vehicle, the Lessee returns the vehicle’s keys and documents (registration certificate) to Renter and proves that he/she took the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the vehicle, the liability of the Lessee is limited to the excess.

7. Accidents

7.1. The Lessee and each driver authorised to drive the vehicle shall take all appropriate measures to protect the interests of Renter and the insurer in the case of an accident during the rental period; among other things, they shall:

7.1.1. find out the names and contact information of everyone involved in the accident and any possible witnesses;

7.1.2. not admit their guilt or liability without the prior consent of Renter;

7.1.3. after the accident, not leave the vehicle unattended or without taking measures to protects its safety;

7.1.4. immediately inform Renter and, if necessary, the police of the accident or theft and stay at the accident scene until the police has granted permission to leave;

7.1.5. prepare a letter of explanation concerning the accident or theft and deliver it to Renter within 24 hours of the accident or theft.

8. Amendment and Termination

8.1. Agreement to amend the rental agreement for less than 30 days may be concluded by e-mail. Agreement to amend the rental agreement for more than 30 days must be made in writing or signed digitally.

8.2. The rental agreement shall expire on the last day of the rental period set out in the rental agreement upon return of the vehicle by the Lessee.

8.3. The Lessee is entitled to terminate the rental agreement before the end of the rental period but Renter is entitled to request full payment of the rental charge set out in the rental agreement. The fee for early termination of the rental agreement is a maximum of 1-month’s rental charge.

8.4. Renter is entitled to terminate the rental agreement before the end of the rental period if the Lessee has materially breached the agreement. Among others, the following instances shall be deemed a material breach of the agreement:

8.4.1. the Lessee fails to pay the rental charge on time;

8.4.2. the Lessee uses the vehicle for a purpose other than the intended purpose of the vehicle, e.g. in a manner described in section 3.3 above;

8.4.3. the Lessee fails to return the on time and does not inform Renter of late return in writing or by e-mail.

9. Processing of personal data

9.1. Renter processes personal data on the bases and pursuant to the procedure specified in the applicable legislation. The principles of Renter’s personal data processing can be found in more detail in Renter's office, rental station and on Renter's website: avis.ee; myavis.ee, budget.ee.

10. Miscellaneous

10.1. The general terms and conditions constitute an integral part of the rental agreement concluded between the Lessee and Renter.

10.2. The rental agreement and the general terms and conditions have been prepared based on and are subject to Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian law (depending on the origin of Renter).

10.3. Any dispute, controversy or claim relating to the performance or interpretation of the agreement shall be resolved by negotiations between the parties. If no consensus is reached, the dispute shall be resolved at the courts of Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania (depending on the origin of Renter).

10.4. The Lessee confirms that he/she has examined all the terms and conditions and guidelines applicable to the rental of the vehicle available at the website of Renter’s respective trademark before concluding the rental agreement.

e-Car Adventures: Best of Finnish culture in Jyväskylä Region

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