A Historic Museum Courtyard and an Enchanted Old-Growth Forest

The Temmes Local Heritage Museum (Finnish: Temmeksen kotiseutumuseo) is home to 13 historic buildings, the oldest dating back to the 1760s. Each summer, the museum grounds come to life with performances of the Niityntallaajat theatre group and the traditional Heritage Day (Finnish: Perinnepäivä), which celebrates local culture with live craft demonstrations. The museum grounds were developed starting in 1967 and are lovingly maintained by the volunteer efforts of the Temmes Local Heritage Association (Finnish: Temmeksen Kotiseutuyhdistys) — a true testament to the strong community spirit that thrives in Temmes.

From the museum courtyard, a suspension bridge leads visitors into a nearby ancient forest, untouched and rich with nature’s magic. Along the path, you might encounter Heikku the Gnome, who lives in the old mill and guides children and families on a delightful gnome trail into the heart of the primeval woods.

The museum grounds also feature a beautifully restored windmill, brought back to life by the local heritage association. Originally built in the early 1800s for the Temmes rectory, the windmill was later moved to the Haapaseppä farm before finding its final home at the museum in 1967. Today, it stands proudly as the only preserved traditional windmill in the area. In the 19th century, there were over 300 windmills across the flatlands of the region — now, only 11 remain.