As a child, I wondered who lives in the small red cabin on the top of the Haulitorni (Shot Tower), the red steel tower in the middle of Pispala ridge. Then I learned that no one has to climb those stairs daily to live there at 65 meters high but the tower is a rare piece of industrial history in the whole of Finland.

Haulitorni was not built to be an observation but for industrial purposes. It was used to in the manufacturing process of shot for shotguns.

Today, Haulitorni is as shiny as a steel tower can be because it was demolished, carefully restored and rebuilt in 2020. It is very beautifully lit and it is at its best during the dark time.

When heading over to admire this steel beauty, I strongly recommend having dinner in Pispalan Pulteri which is nearby. It is one of the most traditional pub-restaurants in the city. Pulteri’s pepper steak is well known amongst the locals.

The second option is to have a snack from Vaakon Nakki, which is just opposite the street from Haulitorni. Vaakon Nakki has been voted as the best snack kiosk in the city for many years!

Notice that the tower has to be admired from the ground, no one is allowed to climb it.