Open House at the Presidential Palace on 2 April 2011

President Tarja Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajärvi greeting the visitors at the Hall of Mirrors. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

The public had the opportunity to visit the Presidential Palace on Saturday, 2 April 2011 from 12 noon, when an Open House was held.

Beginning from the Mariankatu entrance, the tour took visitors through the State Hall, the Dining Hall, the Hall of Mirrors and the Gothic Hall. The tour  concluded at the gate on Pohjoisesplanadi, where visitors also exited the Palace.

Works of art from the imperial art collection was on display along the tour. The majority of the collection was acquired by the Presidential Palace in the latter part of the 19th century. The collection has been studied at the initiative of the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland, and is also the subject of the book Keisarillinen taidekokoelma Suomessa (Imperial Art Collection in Finland). 

This was the second time the Presidential Palace opened its doors to the general public. The first Open House organised in December 2009 was a major success, attracting around 2,600 visitors to the Palace.

• History of the Presidential Palace
• Pictures of the Presidential Palace

Photos