The town centre of Mänttä viewed from Mäntänvuori

Mänttä-Vilppula is a municipality with three town centres in Pirkanmaa, Finland. One of them, Mänttä, is a well-known art town.

Understand

Mänttä is the main centre, in the east: an old industrial site. The town was born around a paper mill founded by the Serlachius family, which now belongs to the Metsä Group. The name Serlachius is still visible in the town’s well-known museums: the Serlachius Museum Gustaf presents industrial history and the Serlachius Museum Gösta is a well-known center of classical and modern art.

In addition to museums, the annual cultural events in Mänttä are Mänttä Fine Arts Weeks and Mänttä Music Festival.

Vilppula is in the west of the municipality, Pohjaslahti and Kolho in the north.

Get in

Mänttä-Vilppula is about halfway between Tampere and Jyväskylä, 80–90 km from each. Its neighbours are Keuruu, Juupajoki, Jämsä, Ruovesi and Virrat.

By train

Vilppula railway station

Vilppula and Kolho have railway stations. Timetables are available from the VR website. The regional train Tampere–Vilppula takes about 1 hr, Tampere–Kolho slightly more. From Jyväskylä there is one daily direct train connection. By transfer there is a connection also from Seinäjoki.

By bus

Long-distance buses from Tampere and Jämsä. For timetables, see Matkahuolto. The Serlachius shuttle bus runs from Tampere to Mänttä on the days that the museums are open.

Get around

By taxi

• Taxi station Mänttä, Ratakatu 10, Mänttä, ☏ +358 100 4711. 
• Taxi station Vilppula, Keskuskatu 2 C, Vilppula, ☏ +358 100 4848. 
• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

See

• 1 Mäntänvuori observation tower. From the observation deck of the tower, you can gaze far across the city to the sparkling lakes of the Keurusselkä and the lush forests beyond. (updated Oct 2022)

Museums

• Serlachius Museum, R. Erik Serlachiuksen katu 2, Mänttä, ☏ +358 3-4886800. Serlachius Museums Gustaf and Gösta feature the history of Finnish paper industry and art, magnificent architecture and enchanting lakeside views amid green forests. 

Eat

• Lounaskahvila Miina, Miinanpellonkatu 2, Mänttä, ☏ +358 40-679-4114. M–F 09:00–15:00, lunch: M–F 11:00–14:30. Cosy lunch café in the heart of the office building. €11, pensioners €10. (updated Jul 2020)
• 1 Rantaravintola Isabella, Kirkkotie 5. Finnish style food. (updated Oct 2022)

Sleep

City of Mänttä has information about hotels and rural accommodation.

Go next

• Petäjävesi – the wooden church of Petäjävesi is a UNESCO World Heritage site