Nature House Villa Elfvik (Villa Elfvikin luontotalo), Helsinki

The beautiful 19th-century Art Nouveau-styled Villa Elfvik was originally built as a summer house by a local nobleman. It was later sold to the City of Espoo and is now converted to a center introducing visitors to the local wildlife and nature in a permanent exhibition called "Long live Espoo". There is also a 700-meter nature path with a bird-watching tower on the way. A nature guide is available during the summer season. The house's staff arranges themed nature hikes open for everyone upon interest. The villa's lovely café takes you back a hundred years to the time when noblewomen sat cozily in the salon sharing their tales of daily life over a cup of tea. The café is open on weekends, and the villa is closed on Saturdays during winter. - Paula Holst

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