Ainola, Järvenpää

The great composer Jean Sibelius and his wife Aino resided in Ainola. It was built in 1904 in the traditional timber style favored by the architect Lars Sonck, on the shores of the magnificent Lake Tuusula in Järvenpää, about ten kilometers north of Helsinki. To allow the creative genius space to work in peace while remaining close enough to the nation's capital to attend significant events, the residence was constructed on a lake. Sibelius and his wife's family sold the home to the state upon their deaths. It was kept in good condition, and a museum foundation was created to look after it.

The only specifications Sibelius gave to Sonck were for the dining room to have a green fireplace and a view of a lake. Because Sibelius did not want the interruption while he was there writing, water pipes were not installed until after his passing. The musician found the tranquility he required for his artistic endeavors because it was removed from the hubbub of the country's capital. According to Erik W. Tawaststjerna, who is his biographer: "When Sibelius first departed from Helsinki, Järvenpää's landscape was largely undeveloped." "While an elk occasionally bestrode the grounds in majesty, sheep and foals frequently tried to enter the house." The Sibelius family had access to a vibrant social scene because of the nearby residences of other talented families. Santeri Levas, Sibelius's personal secretary, captured daily life in Ainola in the 1945 photo collection Jean Sibelius and His House.

Address:Ainolankatu, 04400 Järvenpää

Official site: www.ainola.fi/?lang=en

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