Moominworld
On the south-west coast of Finland is a small town called Naantali. It is a pretty place, with many little islands just off the coastline. On one of these islands-Kailo- is Moominworld! Five years ago today, I had the greatest pleasure of visiting this wonderful place.
To get to the island, you have to walk across a little bridge and then follow the path through the trees until you reach the gate to Muumimaailma. Although it was a beautiful day, the park was not too crowded. There are no rides in this park- it is all about the characters and the world Tove Jansson created for them.
Just past the entrance is the Promenade where there are fairground games and snack shops, wafting fabulous aromas of chocolate and doughnuts around the park. On the corner is the Moomin Post Office and Bookshop, selling a lovely selection of Moomin books.
Passing the Police Station (complete with jail!), you look down the hill and see the blue tower house- The Moominhouse. You can explore every room and make your way up to the very top.
At last they came to a small valley that was more beautiful than any they had seen that day. And there, in the midst of the meadow, stood a house that almost looked like a tall stove, very elegant and painted blue.
The Moomins and the Great Flood
Each room is beautifully recreated with such attention to detail and care. We had such a lovely time exploring them and talking about the books which I loved as a child. Next to the blue house is Moomintroll's house and then there's Hemulen's House, full of his butterfly collection. On the shoreline is the Moomin's bathing hut with Edward the Booble floating nearby. There is so much to see and enjoy, all taking you to the heart of the stories.
Snufkin's Camp, Sniff's Summer Cottage, The giant Pumpkin, the Fire Station, the Groke's House- all of these places are there to visit! The emphasis is on play, exploration and imagination, making Moominworld a wonderful place to visit as a family. Nature trails and story corners encourage children to observe, listen and discuss as well as enjoying the stories of Tove Jansson.
There are stage shows and musical sessions to enjoy as well- and all the characters from the books wander around the park, happily posing for photos and offering cuddles! Everything is so well laid out with plenty of signs in Finnish, English and Swedish.
Moominworld is a truly magical place, well worth a visit. Having enjoyed the Moomin stories as a child, it is a treat to re-read and re-discover them as an adult.
The creator of these stories, Tove Jansson, was born on the 9th August 1914 in Helsinki. A memorial plaque to Jansson was commissioned in 2005 and is situated on the wall of the building in Southern Helsinki where Jansson lived and worked from 1944 to her death, in 2001. The nearby park is named after her.
An excellent book for anyone who knows and loves the Moomins or for anyone who wishes to find out more about them is ‘The World of Moominvalley’ by lifelong Moomin fan, Philip Ardagh, with contributions from Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
You can find out more about Moominworld on their website.