Auttoinen combines a short nature trail with an unusually vivid village history. The Jallinharju Trail starts at the parking area of Auttoisten Maatalo at Rouvilantie 4; a sign there points to the nature trail. The round trip is about two kilometers. It crosses the ridge and offers views of the cultural landscape of Päijät-Häme. This gives visitors two distinct focuses for their stay: the landscape at Jallinharju and the village’s preserved settlement pattern. The short trail can easily be planned separately from the time you may want to set aside for the village’s historic details.
Nature at Jallinharju
At the start of the trail, the endangered plant species idänvirmajuuri (Agrimonia pilosa) grows; woodland flora is also found there. The Jallinharjun-Mänty pine along the trail is protected as a natural monument. Flying squirrels, tawny owls, and badgers have been observed at Jallinharju, among other wildlife. Nature highlights range from plants at the trailhead to animal sightings on the ridge. Visitors particularly interested in plants will find the species mentioned right at the start of the trail; the animal sightings, by contrast, relate to Jallinharju. The trail connects these natural features with views of a cultural landscape also shaped by its settlement history. Auttoinen and Vesijako represent the western forest uplands landscape type of Padasjoki; the Auttoinen–Vesijako area is also designated a nationally valuable landscape.
Village History and Strip Fields
Auttoinen has well preserved its medieval-style clustered village character. Auttoisten kylä is also among Finland’s nationally significant built cultural environments (RKY). The village is home to Hanaporin kaupunki, whose settlement began in the 17th century. The strip fields created there are particularly striking: on a triangular area, 16 strips fan downhill from the same boundary stone. The buildings stood at their lower ends along Hanaporinkatu. This layout makes the division of the land easy to understand: a shared starting point, strips running downhill, and the road lined with buildings form a cohesive settlement pattern.
The scale of the historic village can also be seen along Hanaporinkatu. About a hundred years ago, 17 households with a total of 56 buildings stood along a 170-meter stretch; 65 people lived there. These figures refer to the situation at that time and do not describe the present-day population. Together with the strip fields, they give a visit to Auttoinen a tangible cultural-history focus: the village’s layout reveals not only its form, but also how many households and buildings were concentrated along the road.
Other Places to Visit and Practical Information
Auttoisten Maatalo serves the village as a venue for celebrations, meetings, and events; its parking area is also where the Jallinharju Trail begins. Ala-Savin taide is another place to visit in Auttoinen, at Savintie 228. If you would also like to plan for local shopping or dining, Auttoinen has a farm shop at Keinuhongan Tila, at Keinuhongantie 54, where meat is sold directly. The listed phone number for checking details before your visit is 0400 715 639. Kievari Aijakka is at Kylänraitti 22, 17610 Auttoinen, Padasjoki; weekday lunch is listed as an option there. As this offering may change, contact the establishment in advance to check the latest information.
Discover more destinations: Vierumäki, Sysmä, Padasjoki, Lahti, Orimattila, Asikkala, Nyystölä, Heinola
For the main travel overview: Päijät-Häme.
