Kansallismuseo / National Museum of Finland

Right in the centre of town The Kansallismuseo is easily spotted because of its tall thin gothicky tower built from the stern granite blocks typical of Helsinki.

The exhibitions stagger off confusingly from a great central hall, the ceiling of which is decorated with a huge fresco of manly men doing manly things such as pulling a plough (whilst dressed in armour), fishing, melting things and stabbing mythological creatures with spears. 

The ground floor houses the temporary exhibition, the museum shop and, via some confusing automatic doors, a collection of carved religious icons including a spectacular engraving of a naked Devil with his goatee willy next to The Virgin Mary.

The first floor has the real goodies, a collection of traditional Finnish effects that should be entitled, How to Make Your Entire Life out of Wood. The exhibits include some spectacular runic calendars, a collection of shamanistic fortune telling trinkets (often made in bear), a complete and original 19th century wooden chimneyless house and an impressive collection of farming and fishing equipment. If you're interested in seeing how ordinary Finnish people used to live 'back in the day' then this is for you.

If you're more interested in seeing how rich people used to decorate their houses then head across the landing and you'll find portraits of unfortunate looking people with proto-hipster facial hair smugly looking over their gaudy furniture. The recreated drawing room is particularly eye-opening. I guess before television it made sense to paint pictures all over the walls. 

On the top floor is a fun looking workshop where kids can try for themselves to build a log cabin, churn milk or sit atop a giant motionless horse.

Hit here for the museum webpage

Scroll down for pictures

Heart-broken bear

Manly pastimes

Boris Johnson horse