The Ox Road starts in Turku and is marked with brown signs saying Hämeen Härkätie.
TURKU > KOSKI TL. (60 km)
	Turku (pop. 175,000) in the southwestern corner of Finland is the oldest city and the first capital of the country. All the main places of interest - from the unique national treasures the Castle in the harbour area to the stately Cathedral close to the Old Great Square - are located by Aura river. The riverbanks are pulsating with life in summertime when people gather there to wine and dine, listen to music and to have a good time. An armada of ships takes people for cruises to the Turku archipelago throughout the summer. Great, luxurious passenger ferries sail daily to Sweden from the harbour at the mouth of the river. At the end of July there is a Medieval Market, when the centre of Turku takes on a historical look. Turku Music Festival, a versatile event with old music, classics, modern music, jazz, opera and concerts for children takes place in the middle of August. The Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum hosts the "Handicrafts Days" in the end of August when masters of different professions get together in the open-air museum and their products are sold in the museum shops.
	Turku Castle The largest castle in Finland and one of Finland’s most magnificent national treasures • Linnankatu 80, phone +358 (0)2 262 0300. Turku Cathedral The mother church of the Lutheran Church of Finland is also regarded as one of the major buildings in Finnish architectural history. Tuomiokirkkotori, phone +358 (0)2 261 7100. Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum The unique Handicrafts Museum housed in small log huts mainly dating from the 1700s has received international recognition in the form of a ”Golden Apple” award. Luostarinmäki, phone +358 (0)2 262 0350. Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova Museum A twin museum, combining a museum of archaeology and history and a museum of contemporary Finnish and foreign art. Itäinen Rantakatu 4-6, phone +358 (0)2 250 0552. Forum Marinum The latest tourist attraction in Turku and a centre for maritime research is situated near the Castle. Linnankatu 72, phone +358 (0)2 282 9511. Turku Art Museum has Finland’s largest art collection, ranging from the eighteenth century to modern art. There are also exhibitions of art from other Nordic countries and international lithography. The building, completed in 1904, represents the Finnish Art Nouveau style. Aurakatu 26, phone +358 (0)2 2627 7100, www.turunmuseot.fi. Wäinö Aaltonen Museum, City Art Museum. Sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen was one of the leading Finnish artists of his time. In addition to Aaltonen’s sculptures and paintings, the museum has a large collection of Finnish contemporary art. Itäinen Rantakatu 38, phone +358 (0)2 262 0850, www.turunmuseot.fi. Sibelius Museum, museum of music history. This museum is named after Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. In addition to a collection detailing Sibelius’s career, it contains hundreds of folk and classical music instruments from around the world. www.sibeliusmuseum.abo.fi. Turku Card 2006 Available for 24h /€ 21 or 48h / € 28. Also available a family Turku Card (max. 2 adults and 3 children under 15 years old) for 24h /€ 40. The card offers free admission to nearly all museums and free travel on local buses. The Turku Card can be purchased at most museums and hotels in Turku and from Turku TouRing. Pharmacy Museum, the city’s oldest wooden bourgeois house, built in 1695. The yard has a herb garden and a beautiful little café. Läntinen Rantakatu 13, phone +358 (0)2 262 0280, www.turunmuseot.fi. The Steamship Cruise ”A shipload of gourmet food and live music” In the evenings, the steamer s/s Ukkopekka is a music boat, filled with soft airs, happy swing and beautiful melodies. Stopover at the island of Loistokari. Dancing on the quay every night. Also daily cruises to Naantali. Bookings: s/s Ukkopekka/Ticket office. Linnankatu 38, phone +358 (0)2 515 3300. M/S Lily is available for daily cruises to nearby islands where you can swim, hike, take saunas and have picnics. Bookings: Rosita Oy, Formaalintie 10, phone +358 (0)2 213 1500. www.rosita.fi.
	Joella on the shore of the river Aura sells high-quality lithographies, cards, ceramics, knits and other arts and crafts. Artek, at Linnankatu 3, sells modern furniture and practical, useful household items, including designs by Alvar Aalto. The Cultural Centre on the side of Vanha Suurtori square contains various art and craft shops and a café-bookshop. Kaisla, at Eerikinkatu 17, has unique clothes, fabrics and knits. Shopping trips to the central market square and market hall are always fruitful. Museum shops sell many items which cannot be found anywhere else. The Hansa block by the market square contains shops, boutiques, a large department store and many cafés and restaurants.
From Turku the Ox Road of Häme follows road 10 to Lieto and then road 2230 to Tarvasjoki. In Lieto you should visit Zoolandia, which houses approximately 60 different animal species. You can also visit one of Finland’s most important castles, Liedon Vanhalinna (the Old Castle), whose museum contains items including prehistoric finds from the area. At Tarvasjoki, history presents itself in the form of Juvan Kartano manor and its museum. From there the route continues along road 2250 to Marttila and then along the 2264 to Koski TL. Koski, meaning “rapids”, gets its name from the many rapids in the river Paimionjoki, which passes through the village. The refreshing waters of beautiful lake Liipolanjärvi are perferct for a dip. For those requiring accommodation we recommend the lovely environment of Koskenkartano Manor.
KOSKI TL. > HÄMEENLINNA (90 km) From Koski TL, the route takes road 2810 to Somero. Ateljee Hiidenlinna in Somerjoki is a granite miniature castle built by one man in the 1990s. In addition to the owner’s sculptures, it hosts work by guest artists. Astrological café Villa Tauro, open in July, invites you in for coffee and astrology. High-quality linen products can be found at Pellavakeskus. Those interested in gardening should visit the Kärsälä Rose Garden, which has a collection of 250 rose varieties as well as a herb garden in the style of mediaeval monasteries’ gardens. From Somero the Ox Road follows roads 2802 and 2824 to Vojakkala, after which it turns left along road 54. Eventually this road joins highway 10, along which the route continues.
	Hämeenlinna (pop. 47,300) is one of the oldest towns in Finland and the birthplace of the internationally best known Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Häme Castle is worth visiting. Construction started in the 13th century and the castle is the backdrop for many events and exhibitions. The scenic highlights of Hämeenlinna are Ahvenisto and Hattelmala ridge, Lake Vanajavesi valley and the Aulanko Nature Reserve with the newly opened Spa next to Hotel Rantasipi Aulanko. Hämeenlinna is also one of the end stops for Finnish Silverline cruises. Silverline’s boats (www.finnishsilverline.com) go from Hämeenlinna to Virrat, via Tampere .