FISKARS 1649 – 360 years of Finnish industrial history

Fiskars 1649
Fiskars 1649
An ironworks reborn
– into Fiskars Village
Today’s Fiskars Village has become a popular
destination, offering visitors a heritage
environment that is unique in Finland
and a wide range of attractions and services. The
summer exhibitions held there are among some of
the most interesting in Finland and attract people
from across the country and abroad. Activities
are not only limited to the summer, however, as
the Village is a dynamic community of artisans,
designers, and artists year-round, and one of the
few of its kind anywhere – and one that has been
able to retain its unique quality and individuality.
It is perhaps difficult to believe today that the
community was experiencing many of the same
problems encountered by industrial localities
elsewhere, in Finland and internationally, as
recently as the 1980s. Industry was changing, and
jobs were moving elsewhere as Fiskars grew and
expanded internationally. The old buildings in the
village were simply not suitable or large enough for
the type of large production units needed today.
The community found itself in the same vicious
circle as many other industrial centers; people began
moving away in increasing numbers, houses were
left empty, and services began to be cut back. The
trend seemed almost inevitable.
The river through Fiskars and the many bridges which cross it have always been an prominent part of the village.
Opposite page: The clocktower buildning, were the school and stables located earlier, with its’ towerclock, is a landmark in Fiskars.
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