Iittala Glass Village

The glassworks at Iittala was founded in 1881 by a Swedish glassblower and grew into one of the defining Finnish design companies, producing pieces that are in most Finnish kitchens and in design collections abroad: Alvar Aalto's wave-edged vase of 1936, Kaj Franck's stripped-down tableware, Oiva Toikka's glass birds, Tapio Wirkkala's ice-textured pieces. The village around the factory has a glass museum covering the company's history and its designers, a hot shop where blowers can be watched working, artists' studios, a shop selling seconds and discontinued lines, and a café. Production continues, so what is being made changes with the day.

What you actually see

• Glassblowers at work - the hot shop with production under way.
• The glass museum - Aalto, Franck, Wirkkala and Toikka in one collection.
• Oiva Toikka birds - the mouth-blown series still made here.
• The factory outlet - seconds and discontinued lines at the works.

When to go

Year round; blowing demonstrations follow the production schedule and are fewer during summer shutdowns. Half a day. Weekends are busy at the outlet.

Honest expectations

The hot shop is not always running, particularly during factory holidays in July. The outlet is the main draw for many and can be crowded. The village is small and there is little else. Check demonstration times before travelling.

Nearby

Hameenlinna is south; Tampere lies north-west.