Nurmijärvi offers two distinct areas of focus for planning a trip: places and collections associated with Aleksis Kivi, and hiking trails in the municipality.

Kivi’s Footsteps in Kirkonkylä

A bronze statue of Aleksis Kivi stands in Nurmijärvi’s Kirkonkylä. The sculpture was made by Aukusti Veuro in 1934. The wooden church Nurmijärven kirkko is also associated with the writer: it was inaugurated in 1793 and is known as Aleksis Kivi’s confirmation church. The church is also one of the Road Churches. The statue and the church offer different perspectives—the monument commemorates Kivi, while the church is connected to a specific chapter in his life.

The Kivi Room in the Kirkonkylä library holds first editions of Kivi’s works, as well as research publications and other literature about him. A different perspective is offered by the Aleksis Kivi section of the Nurmijärvi Art Museum: it contains more than 300 volumes of Kivi’s works in various languages. Thus, literary first editions and research publications are set alongside a multilingual collection of his works.

Art and Local History

Galleria Ville, run by the municipal cultural services, is an exhibition space that mainly hosts exhibitions by professional visual artists. It is located in Nurmijärvi’s main library, near the bus station and services in the centre of Kirkonkylä. The Nurmijärvi Museum, the Nurmijärvi Art Association and the local art school have regular exhibition slots there. If you are planning a visit, check in advance which exhibitions will be on during your stay.

The Nurmijärvi Art Museum complements these art offerings with collections and events on a range of subjects. Its extensive photographic collection begins in the 1960s and offers a cross-section of Nurmijärvi’s recent history. The section on wartime displays memorabilia, objects, handicrafts and literature from Nurmijärvi. Other holdings include the legacy of the first pharmaceutical factory founded in Finland, which was established in Nurmijärvi, as well as cobalt-blue and gold-patinated objects from the Savitorppa ceramics workshop. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions and lectures.

Hiking at Different Scales

For a shorter outing, consider the outdoor trail between Kirkonkylä and Myllykoski, which is about four kilometres long in total. The Seitsemän veljeksen hiking route is on a different scale: it runs for about 33 kilometres within the municipality and is suitable for both short day trips and multi-day hikes. This gives you a choice between two different distances and, for the longer route, between a day trip and a multi-day hike.

There are rest areas along the Seitsemän veljeksen route, as well as food, washing and accommodation facilities. The route passes through Kaanaan Forest, which is now a nature reserve. It is suitable for hiking and excursions, and some sections can also be used for cross-country skiing and cycling. These features make the route a distinct option for planning a trip within the municipality; it is separate from the shorter connection between Kirkonkylä and Myllykoski.

Discover more destinations: Tuusula, Helsinki, Kerava, Espoo, Mäntsälä, Hyvinkää, Lapinjärvi, Nummi-Pusula

For the broader travel overview: Uusimaa.