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The Pien-Toijola Open-Air Museum in Ristiina is a nationally significant rural
cultural environment. It is located in the village of Toijola, approximately
20 km from downtown Ristiina towards Puumala. The museum grounds have a total
of 28 buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the museum grounds
and collections are privately owned, the municipality of Ristiina is
responsible for running the museum and keeping it open.
Pien-Toijola offers its visitors a rare opportunity to learn more about a 19th
century farm that is more or less completely preserved. All of the museum
buildings are in their original locations and the artefacts on display have
been used on the farm.
The farmyard has a main building, a stone barn and seven storehouses between
them. The main building was built in 1803 and renovated in 1880. A cattle
path, i.e., the old carriage path, is fenced off using traditional Finnish
fencing and runs between the main building, barn, stable and firewood shed.
The path leads to the smoke sauna and the maid’s building. There are also
individual buildings in the undulating fields surrounding the farm.
The farm has been owned by the Toijonen family since 1672 and it has been
granted its own family banner. It has also received an honorary plaque from
the Foundation for Finnish Peasant Culture.
Nearby the museum are the Astuvansalmi rock paintings, Finland’s most
significant pre-historic
rock paintings, and Kallioniemi, a villa built by E. N. Setälä that is now
used as a restaurant.
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