Loviisa is one of the more than 20 “wooden towns” dotted along the western and southern coasts of Finland. Each town has its own heritage of wooden houses, characterized by the area’s history and culture.
Loviisa was established in 1745, when the country was under Swedish rule. It was a busy international seaport until 1913 when Finland had already become a part of Russia. At one point it was the second largest port in Finland.
Loviisa’s rich history is reflected in its wooden housing stock. The southern part of the town is said to be among Finland’s best preserved complete wooden town areas. The oldest houses date from the mid 1700’s. After the fire of 1855 a new handsome wooden town spread to the other streets, often having larger houses in a Central European style.
In order to protect the valuable heritage of the town’s old wooden houses, the association LWT (Loviisan Wanhat Talot ry / Lovisa Historiska Hus rf.) was formed in 2009. It has the mission of preserving East Uusimaa region’s legacy of craftsmanship and design. It aims to promote, help and advise house owners in the use of traditional materials in their renovation and maintenance.
The association’s work includes organizing Open House events every year at the end of August and at Christmas. Both events have been a huge success attracting thousands of visitors in the East Uusimaa region, nationally and increasingly abroad.
Other activities of the association include training courses, a loan scheme for scaffolding and tools as well as a database of trusted professionals in the trade.
All information about the association can be found on this website in Finnish and Swedish.
In addition to the website a colorful magazine is produced before the summer event. It covers information about the event itself, descriptions of houses taking part, maps and guidance for visitors. It features articles about experiences of families renovating and living in an old wooden house as well as advice and tips for those considering buying one. The publication is free to ticket holders and for sale before and during the summer event across the town.