Seitseminen Visitor Centre is a treasure chest of nature information.
We provide information on the watershed region of southern Suomenselkä's forest
and mire habitats. Our customer service desk will give you information on
Metsähallitus products and services and help you plan hikes.
Opening Hours in 2010
7.1.-14.2. Wed - Sun 10 am to 6 pm
15.2.-30.4.
Mon - Sun 10 am to 6 pm
1.5.-31.5. Mon - Sun 9 am to 5 pm
1.6.-31.8. Mon -
Sun 10 am to 6 pm
1.9.-31.10 Mon - Sun 9 am to 5 pm
Opening hours of the latter part of the year will be announced later. We
reserve the rights to changes.
Entrance
There is no entrance fee. Groups should make reservations in advance. We
charge for theme tours.
Contact Information
Address: Seitseminen Visitor Centre, Seitsemisentie 110,
34530 Länsi-Aure, Finland
Tel. int. +358 205 64
5270
Fax: +358 205 64 5271
E-mail:
seitseminen(at)metsa.fi
The Visitor Centre is managed by Metsähallitus.
Directions
By Car
There are signposts leading to Seitseminen National Park from Kuru (www.ylojarvi.fi), Parkano (www.parkano.fi, in Finnish) and
Luhalahti.
By Public Transportation
The closest railway stations are in Tampere and Parkano (7 km outside of
town). There are also daily coach connections from Tampere to Kuru. Some coaches
travel between Kuru and Parkano. Their schedules accommodate the needs of the
school children in the area. For more information contact Pentin Pirssi ja
Bussit, tel. int. +358 40 554 1730. The closest bus stop is about 1 km from
Seitseminen Visitor Centre.
Train timetables (www.vr.fi).
- Parkano travel services (railway station and town centre) tel. +358 3 448
2330.
- Tampere - Kuru and Tampere - Parkano coach timetables here
(www.matkahuolto.fi).
Services
- Information on hiking possibilities and nature in
Seitseminen and Helvetinjärvi National Parks, Riuttaskorpi
Recreational Forest and other close by National Parks and protected areas.
- Reservations and keys for
Wild North
(www.villipohjola.fi) rental cabins. Information on other lodging
possibilities in the area.
- Bicycle rental.
- We sell maps of the surrounding areas, books, posters and other related
products.
- Welcome to Seitseminen - basic presentation about park's history and
nature. Reservations for groups can be made in advance. Presentations are free
of charge.
Events
We arrange a variety of exhibitions and other events.
Exhibitions
- Metsän siimes - The Shelter of the Forest
Who lives in the old
forests? What goes on out of sight? Who in the forest is nocturnal? This
exhibit allows visitors a new view of old-growth forests and the species that
live in them and shows visitors why these species thrive in old-growth
forests. The exhibit is aimed at many senses; there is much to see, hear, try
out and read. You and your children can try out a puzzle or you can see the
inside of a flying squirrel’s or a Black Woodpecker’s nest hole. There is a
picture of each specie to help visitors learn to identify them. Come
experience a night-time hunt for food or settle down under a spruce tree to
learn the secrets of life in the forest. Welcome on an exploration of the
forest.
- Metsäretki - A Forest Expedition
What should you take along
in a packed lunch so that there would be a minimum amount of garbage? What
clothing should you wear on outdoor excursions? Where can you spend the night?
What type of campfire is the easiest to light? You can find the answers to
these and many other questions related to outdoor recreation at the A Forest
Expedition exhibit. The exhibit is actually more of a game in which visitors
can test their survival skills and knowledge of outdoors recreation. You can
play the game alone or with a group. A Crested Tit is a guiding figure in the
game.
Visitors can view the Take a
Break exhibit while enjoying a cup of coffee or other treats from our café.
The exhibit features photographs and written stories which tell the forest
related history of the Seitseminen area. Old photographs from the 1920s to the
1950s tell of the life loggers and the women running logger’s cabins led.
Memoirs written by a forester called Sointu Salonen who worked in the area in
the 1970s are like travelling back in time to a time before the area was a
National Park. Visitors can come to the Take a Break exhibit to do just that,
take a break, before or after a hike.
Auditorium and AV Presentations
- The auditorium seats 55 people.
- Presentations
Forests
Back to Nature, 15 min. A film about restoration of forests
and mires.
- Welcome to Seitseminen, 10 minutes.A slideshow with pictures
of Seitseminen National Park accompanied by music.
Mires and waternature
- The Grey Seal, 15 min. A film about the life of seals, from
pup to adult, and the threats they face.
Heritage landscapes
Changes to the Finnish countryside, 15 min. A film
documenting changes in the Finnisf countryside from the early 1900s until
today.
- Preserving Heritage Landscapes, 15 min. A film about
traditional Finnish landcapes and how they are maintained.
- Presentations are shown on request. Reservations for groups can be made
in advance. Presentations are free of charge.
- The auditorium can be rented for conference use.
Näädänpolku (pine marten) Trail, Tikanpuupolku Trail and Fireplace
Shelter
- On the Visitor Centre grounds groups can eat in a
fireplace
shelter.
Näädänpiha playground is behind the Visitor Centre.
- A 500-metre trail,
Tikanpuupolku,
featuring hole-nesting birds begins on the Visitor Centre grounds.
- By the Tikanpuupolku Trail there is the Metsäkatsomo
campfire site about 100 metres from the Visitor Centre grounds. Wood
can be taken from the fireplace shelter to the campfire site.
The Visitor Centre Cafe
- Opening hours in 2009:
- 7.1. to 30.4. Sat to Sun 9 am to 5 pm. At other hours by special
arrangement.
- 1.5. to 31.5. Mon - Sun 9 am to 5 pm
- 1.6. to 30.6. Mon - Sun 10 am to 6 pm
- 1.7. to 31.7. Mon - Sun 10 am to 8 pm
- 1.8. to 31.8. Mon - Sun 10 am to 6 pm
- 1.9. to 31.10. Mon - Sun 9 am to 5 pm
- 1.11. to 15.12 Sat to Sun 9 am to 5 pm. At other hours by special
arrangement
- During summer a lunch buffet is served daily. At other times meals must be
reserved in advance.
- We can also cater to cabins.
- For more information, call Visitor Centre or send e-mail.
Services for the Disabled
- The Visitor Centre's exhibition space and cafe are accessible by
wheelchair.
- The auditorium fits 7 wheelchairs.
- The building has a toilet for the disabled.
- Tikanpuupolku trail (500 metres) which begins on the Visitor Centre's
grounds is accessible by wheelchair, with assistance.
- Also part of Multiharju primary forest
trail and Soljanen nature trail,
Kovero crown tenant farm grounds and bicycle
route at the south end of Lake Pitkäjärvi
are wheelchair accessible.
It is suggested that visitors with wheelchairs
have an assistant with them.
Read More about our Service Guarantee.
