Sights

The Rautatiepuisto park area between the railway station and the city center was once built as a residential area for railway workers. The area was partly owned by VR and Paloheimo, and the buildings housed employees' apartments for railway employees, Paloheimo's office space and other functions. A new site plan was prepared for the area in the 1980s, where it was decided to preserve it with its buildings as a culturally historically valuable environment. There are several protected buildings in the area. The houses along the roads were sold in the 1990s to private individuals, who have since renovated the buildings. Read more about the Rautatienpuisto park.

Riihimäen Lasi Oy started its operations in the town in 1910. The glass factory took care of the well-being of its employees in many ways, one of which was the workers' residential area, Hyttikortteli city block, built around the glass factory. The apartments with their park-like surroundings were a valuable addition to the glass factory workers and their families. In addition to the residential buildings it owned, the factory also supported the construction of private homes by the employees. Although the glass factory stopped operating in 1990, the old residential environment has largely remained unchanged. There are also actively operating glass studios in the area. In addition, new detached houses and row houses that fit the environment have been built and are being built in Hyttikortteli city block.

In years 1916 and 17, the architect Harald Andersin prepared the first city plan for Riihimäki. In his plans, a place on the ridge of Salpausselkä was reserved for the city's water tower. However, Andersin's plan was not implemented, and instead a new plan was ordered from Otto I. Meurmann.

The place reserved for the water tower pleased Anders Gestrin, a powerful local figure, who was the leader of the densely populated community at the time. Gestrin built his handsome villa representing Danish-Nordic classicism on the site before the new city plan was completed. There were grumblings in the municipal administration about taking over the place, but Gestrin kept his head and the building was named Alli's castle and later Allinna after the builder's wife Alli. The building designed by architect Oiva Kallio was completed in 1919.

Over the decades, Allinna has seen a lot: the property has been used as a private home, a hotel-restaurant, a Mormon church, a glass museum, a music school, and the administration of a health center. At one time, Allinna also housed the city's school and cultural offices. In 1991, Allinna was turned into a gallery for changing exhibitions. From 1995, a restaurant operated in connection with the gallery in Allinna, which was closed after a dramatic fire in 2005.

In 2015, Allinna was passed into private ownership.

Vesilinna water tower was completed in 1952 and was designed by Professor Erik Bryggman. It was his last construction work during his lifetime. The building was designed not only as a water tower but also as an observation tower. A cafe was placed on the upper platform. Café bar Torni on the viewing platform is open during the summer and when a flag is raised in the mast.

The Central Church (Keskuskirkko) in the center of Riihimäki was completed in 1905 and has 630 seats. The original drawings were prepared by the architecture firm Nyström-Petrelius-Penttilä. The church was built by a local support association. Funds were collected through, among other things, raffles and sales. The Finnish Railways Government supported the construction work in a significant way.

Even before the Riihimäki congregation was founded, the support association donated the church to the congregation that would be founded later. When the congregation started its activities in 1922, it had its own church from the beginning. The Central Church has been renovated in 1927, 1952 and 1978.

You can find more information about Riihimäki's Central Church from the church's website.

Riihimäki's Central Church
Hämeenkatu 5
11100 Riihimaki

The Kappelikirkko located in the Hirsimäki district was completed in 1956 and has 350 seats. The church was designed by architect Lauri Heinänen. On the altar wall, a cross has been built with planks from the ceiling to the floor and from one wall to the other. It tells about the extent of God's love. The Kappelikirkko, located next to the cemetery, serves the congregation both as a church and as a blessing chapel.

You can find more information about Riihimäki's Kappelikirkko from the church's website.

Riihimäki's Kappelikirkko
Kolehmaisenkatu 26
11100 Riihimaki

One of the most architecturally elegant buildings of the Riihimäki garrison is the Varuskuntakirkko located in the middle of the barracks area. The church was completed in 1913 as an Orthodox military church for the Russian garrison. The church was consecrated as the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ. The red brick church was built according to type drawings from the 1880s and it represents the so-called tsarist barrack style. There is a also church built with similar drawings in Kouvola, for example.

After Finland became independent, the church remained state property. The church towers were demolished, the interior was destroyed and the icons were lost. The state sold the church bells. Only the three smallest bells remained unsold and they are now in use. For decades, the church was a warehouse for the garrison. In the late 1950s, the Ministry of Defense leased the church to the Riihimäki parish in exchange for repairs and maintenance. The church was repaired in accordance with the plans of the architect Kalevi Väyrynen, largely as voluntary work. The church was consecrated by Bishop E. G. Gulin in 1960 to serve the garrison and the parish.

In 1993, the organ builder Veikko Virtanen's 8-voice organ was completed for the church. The church's excellent acoustics have made it a very popular concert and recording church. There are 410 seats. The church is located in the garrison area.

A bronze relief of Colonel Feodor Znamenski is on the north wall of the garrison church. The first commander of the Riihimäki garrison was known to have hoped that he would be buried on Riihimäki. It has been speculated that his grave is on the front right of the door on the north side of the church, in the corner of the parking lot, near the big spruce. It is known for certain that there used to be a grave fenced with iron chains and corner stones. The grave hindered the storage of logs brought to the area for sawing in the 1940s, which is why the fencing was dismantled and scrapped.

The relief was designed by the artist Jyrki Sailo, and it was donated to the garrison by the city of Riihimäki. The relief was unveiled on September 11.9.1967th in XNUMX. A plaster copy of the relief is kept at the garrison's officers' club. (Source: Riihimäen varuskunnan historia, Jari Lehtoväre)

Riihimäki's Varuskuntakirkko
Tykkäntietie 7
11310 Riihimaki

Riihimäki's Kotikirkko is the church of the Riihimäki Pentecostal congregation in Koivistonmäki district at Koivistonkatu 5. The building is the center of the local Pentecostal congregation, where most of the congregation's events are held in addition to church services.

The wooden church building was completed in 1960, and the dedication ceremony was on April 10.4.1960, XNUMX. The church was built mainly with skilled workers. Teuvo Jokisalo was responsible for planning and work management. When completed, the building represented the church building architecture commonly used in Pentecostal churches in its era.

You can find more information about Riihimäki's Kotikirkko from the church's website.

Riihimäki's Kotikirkko
Koivistonkatu 5
11100 Riihimaki