Centenary of republican govt
Prominent govt houses remain open to all
Published : 09 Sep 2019, 16:00
Updated : 10 Sep 2019, 10:15
People will get an opportunity to visit the Government Palace and the House of the Estates on September 14 marking the 100th anniversary of Finland’s republican form of government, said an official press release.
At the same time there will be coffee, music and speeches at Helsinki Market Square to celebrate the event.
In honour of the anniversary, the open house event will also take place in the Presidential Palace and Parliament Building.
The doors of the Parliament Building will be open on September 13 from 2:00 pm to 7:00pm, and the doors of the Government Palace and House of the Estates will be open September 14 from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
The anniversary year will also be celebrated with various events in the second week of September.
The tour of the Government Palace takes people to the historical atmosphere of the building designed by architect Carl Ludwig Engel. Along the way, people can see the second-floor landing of the main staircase where Eugen Schauman fired the fatal bullets at Governor-General Nikolai Bobrikov in 1904.
The people may also visit the Government Session Hall and the Presidential Room.
Prime Minister Rinne will be present at his workplace, the Government Palace, for part of the day to meet the people.
Designed by architect Karl Gustaf Nyström in the Neo-Renaissance style, the House of the Estates was built in 1888–1890. One of its most special treasures is the magnificent staircase where natural light shines through coloured window panes.
The dignified building now serves as a venue for meetings, official functions and receptions of the Government and its ministries, with hundreds of events held there every year.
Both the Government Palace and the House of the Estates were last open to the public at the same time in 2017 to honour the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence. More information about the open houses and practical advice to visitors is available on our website.
At the same time with the open houses, people can also go to Helsinki Market Square for a cup of coffee at 10.00–15.00. While drinking coffee, people can enjoy musical performances and listen to speeches and discussions relating to the 100th anniversary theme.
The speakers and panellists include historians, MPs and ministers.