The Qwensel House was built around 1700, making it the oldest wooden structure in the city.
The interior represents the home of Court of Appeal Assessor Josef Gustaf Qwensel in the 1780s.
The pharmacy section showcases the interior of the Crown Pharmacy, which operated in the building from 1858.
Many of the apothecary's original glass bottles and ceramic jars still contain residue of 19th-century medicinal ingredients.
The site features a rare example of a 'peep-show' box used for entertainment in the 18th century.
The building's survival of the 1827 Great Fire is attributed to its location and specific structural composition.
The garden reflects the aesthetic preferences of the 1700s, including medicinal and ornamental plants grown at the time.
The Pharmacy Museum and Qwensel House features the oldest remaining residential building in Turku, dating back to the early 18th century. The site displays the 19th-century interiors of the Qwensel family, showcasing the lifestyle of the city's bourgeois class during the post-fire era of 1827. The pharmacy wing hosts an extensive collection of historical medical equipment, apothecary jars, and dried medicinal herbs from the late 19th century. The wooden house survived the Great Fire of Turku, which destroyed the vast majority of the city's architecture in 1827. The site operates as part of the Turku Museum Centre, integrating historical interior design with specialized history of medicine. A courtyard garden remains preserved behind the house, mirroring typical 18th-century urban garden layouts.
The internal courtyard facing the wooden facade provides the most authentic view of the architecture.
Combine your visit with a stop at the onsite café, which uses period-appropriate recipes.
Look closely at the apothecary counters to see the original pull-out drawers for ingredients.
Spend time in the inner courtyard, as it provides a rare, quiet view into the 18th-century city layout.
Do not attempt to touch the medical glass jars or the period furniture, as these are fragile, non-replaceable museum artifacts.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season.
