A Countryside Industrial Heritage from 1703

In the midst of nature, surrounded by lush, green countryside with many dams and waterfalls, you will find Kimo Ironworks, with architecture that spans 300 years of industrial history. Iron ore was transformed here into an important export product of that time, the bar iron, which was used as a decorating iron for buildings, weapons and equipment. KB was a trademark and the iron’s good quality became famous.

The Ironworks has a rich history involving industry, trade and export. Here you can experience the different innovation phases of industrialization, rich in “new” technology, as well as the interesting sociological influence of migration that traces back as far as Wallonia. Layers of history are embedded in the lush greenery of wild herbs and several tree-types. Here you can find flying squirrels in the trees and sand-martins on the hillsides.

Today the Ironworks is run on the basis of its value for tourism, history and culture. Artists, craftsmen and energetic volunteers have transformed an olden day industrial park into a regional resource where business and culture meet. We offer seminar/conference facilities, a cafeteria, a museum, the ironworks restaurant, a theatre, hiking trails and many amusements. We celebrate Midsummer with a maypole and a forge festival with an old-fashioned market; we also arrange motorbike meetings, weddings and other celebrations.

CONTACT

Gunvor Häggman Oravais Hembygdsförening rf Tel: +358-050-5165777 Tel/Fax: +358-6-3840369 (brukets kansli) kimobruk@oravais.fi