Summer in Karelia

Karelia is a region shaped by great lakes, an achingly beautiful landscape, and a distinctive culture flavoured by the historical influence of the Orthodox faith and the hospitable character of the Karelian people. Karelia offers the visitor the full spectrum of Finnish landscape in all its majestic variety. There are rugged hilly ridges, marshlands, untouched wilderness, countless lakes and islands, rivers and rapids - and masses of space for hikers, canoeists, fishermen, horseback riders, cyclists, skiers and berry pickers. From the wild Ruunaa rapids at Lieksa to the romantic placid lakes, Karelian waters are an adventure playground for very mood.

Winter in Karelia

North Karelia's snowy winters provide an excellent backdrop for a host of activities for all age groups. You can ski downhill and cross-country, hike on snowshoes, drive a snowmobile and fish through a hole in the ice. You can also admire the national park landscape at Koli and ski along Southern Finland's longest illuminated skiing trail. Accommodation ranging from rustic cottages to luxurious spa hotels means there is something to suit every pocket.

Koli The area is the hallmark of hill and lakeland scenery at its best. Koli, a diversified winter sports centre, has been a travel destination for more than a century. The refurbished Hotel Koli and the new Nature Centre "Ukko" are located in Koli Natural Park.

Lieksa The vast wilderness in Lieksa near the eastern border invites nature lovers to spend an exhilarating holiday in natural splendour. There are plenty of different kinds of activities: cross-country and downhill skiing, snowshoe trekking, unforgettable dog sled expeditions and snowmobile safaris.

Kitee Region The Kitee region is famous for its snowmobile routes and good opportunities for ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) and snowmobile safaris.

Ilomantsi

Listen to the enchanting sounds of the kantele at the Bard´s Hall in Parppeinvaara, or let the silence surround you in our beautiful churches. Travel back through out nation's military history at the Taistelijan Talo, Fighter´s House, or discover the historic art of iron making at the Möhkö Ironworks.

Visit the easternmost point in the continental European Union on Lake Virmajärvi in Ilomantsi and experience the proximity of the Russian border. Explore the magnificent Karelian nature in the Petkeljärvi National Park and along the hiking paths of the Karelian Circuit, or canoe along the twisting River Koitajoki through ancient forests.

Taste our local specialities: Karelian Vatruska and Sultsina pies, berry wines and liqueurs from the Hermanni Winery, or berry delights from Mantsin Makie. Try all of them during your stay, or bring some home with you to remember your wonderful visit to Karelia!

Joensuu

Joensuu is an attractive centre for trade, culture, education and technology. Joensuu can offer you the chance to satisfy almost all your interests. The nearby wilderness areas provide a setting for nature enthusiasts. Jogging paths and a wide variety of facilities are a delight to sportsmen and women. The orchestra, theatre and art museum are among the many town institutions catering to visitors seeking cultural experiences.

The total population of the town, including the new areas Kiihtelysvaara, Tuupovaara, Pyhäselkä and Eno, is approximately 72 000 and the surface area is 2382 km2.

Juuka

Juuka is located on the western shore of Lake Pielinen, near Koli. Landscapes of tree-topped hills and views over the expanse of Pielinen are a part of Juuka and the Finnish national landscape.

The total area is 1 846 square kilometres, of which 5000 hectares belongs to Finland's highest island, Paalasmaa. The population is about 7000. Juuka is known as the Stone Roller's Village, because a film of the same name was made there. Above all, Juuka is known for soapstone, which is used for fireplaces and as building material. In the Tulikivi Village you can become acquainted with soapstone products and visit a soapstone museum. Pottery and soapstoneware are very popular souvenirs and can be bought all around Juuka.

Kesälahti

Kesälahti is the most southern municipality in North Karelia. It is located between two large fish-abounding lakes, Puruvesi and Karjalan Pyhäjärvi. There is good balance between agriculture, forestry, services, and industry.

Kesälahti is known for vendaces, strawberries and Karelian rice pasties. Silence and beauty and peace of nature are very important for many travellers. These values are offered by Kesälahti.

The population of Kesälahti increases by over one third during summer time. Holiday villages offer over 500 cottages or rooms for summer visitors. A traveler can, for example, participate in the salmon king fishing competition, which lures hundreds of fishermen from all over Finland.

Kitee

Kitee offers something for everyone: baseball, animal park and magnificent snow mobile routes in winter. Nature trails and other activities are versatile.

Population 9477. Total area 1141km². Kitee was founded in 1631 and attained the official status of a town in 1992. Kitee is a part of the Province of Eastern Finland which is the easternmost province of the European Union. Kitee is also the centre of the Central Karelian economic area. Kitee is ideally located: the main road 6 and the Helsinki-Joensuu railroad go through the town. It is easy to come to the centre from the railway station by a special "traintaxi". Kitee offers the services you expect from an urban area but also the peace of nature and clear fishing waters.

Kontiolahti

Kontiolahti is located in the middle of North Karelia, by good transportation connections. Established in 1873, Kontiolahti is a youthful municipality of more than 13,500 active inhabitants amidst the beautiful region of North Karelia in Eastern Finland. Proximity to the magnificent waterways and extensive wilderness areas render life in Kontiolahti pleasant and peaceful.

Kontiolahti, which focuses on openness and services, is a vibrant and constantly developing municipality. One indication of this is that the number of inhabitants in Kontiolahti has grown uninterruptedly for 25 years.

Lieksa

Find your way to Lieksa! Lieksa is best known from its national landscapes at Koli. The centre of Lieksa is located at the opposite side of Lake Pielinen. The lake cand be crossed at summer by car ferry and by winter by the ice road.

In Lieksa you can have a holiday full of experiences. The magnificent sceneries and Karelian wilderness offer a wide range of hiking and canoeing routes, cross-country skiing trails and fishing possibilities.

In winter you can also get around in the snowy forests on snow shoes, by snow mobile or in a sledge pulled by a dog team. In summer you can for example shoot the Ruunaa rapids in a wooden boat or on a rubber raft and help to paddle it through the fast moving waters.

Cultural supply is also wide. The Lieksa Brass Week festival at the end of July brings the masters of brass music to North Karelia. In Vuonisjärvi, about 30 km from Lieksa, is located the studio of the wood sculptress Eva Ryynänen. She created about 500 wooden sculptures and her biggest single project was the Paateri Chapel.

Liperi

Liperi is a municipality of 12,000 inhabitants in the region of Joensuu. Its attraction is based on clean environment, variable countryside landscape, lakes and good location.

Thanks to its large field areas the 130 year-old municipality of Liperi is known as the Bread Parish of North Karelia. A lot of grain, potato, fish and meat is produced in Liperi. It is important to us that our products are self-sufficient, clean and of good quality.

Many lakes and beautiful nature offer a good opportunity to live and spend sparetime here. There are about 3,000 summer cottages in Liperi and at the beginning of the year 2004 a council made up of summer residents was elected, first in Finland.

Every season offers a tourist something to see and experience in Liperi. The areas around Pärnävaara and the lakes around Ylämylly are ideal for hikers. On the river Taipaleenjoki you can go boating or canoeing.

You can get acquainted with agricultural history in Agricultural Museum in the village of Liperi, whereas in Viinijärvi you can find Kompero Museum and in Ylämylly two Automobile Museums .

There are several churches: The Orthodox Church of Taipale in Viinijärvi, The Lutheran Church with a tiny church museum in tower lies in Liperi.

Nurmes

Nurmes, the city of birches, is located in the northern part of North Karelia, on the border of Savo and Kainuu. The lively small town with almost 9000 inhabitants lies at the northern end of lake Pielinen.

The town has a surface area of 1605 km2, in other words Nurmes is slightly bigger than Greater London. For example Norway's Trondheim and Canada's Klondyke are situated on the same 64th parallel of latitude.

Nurmes was first mentioned in documents in 1556. Alexander II, Czar of Russia, established the market town of Nurmes in 1876. In 1974 it received its town charter. For centuries, Nurmes was an important merchant place. The unique wooden quarter of the town, the Wooden Nurmes (Puu-Nurmes), still exists as a reminder of the old grid plan.

Today it is primarily a popular tourist town, where travellers return to, year after year. Its idyllic wooden houses and the Karelian village Bomba make Nurmes an especially charming small town.

Nurmes offers a lot to winter travellers. Skiing tours in the wilderness and downhill skiing in Jurttivaara makes your winter vacation an unforgettable action holiday. Karelian Christmas in Nurmes is worth experiencing at least once in a lifetime.

Outokumpu

Outokumpu is best known from its history of mining industry. The Nature and Fishing Centre of Outokumpu is a good destination for families with children. Good selection of hiking and canoeing routes offer activities for all.

Outokumpu town is situated in the Eastern Finland, about 500 km from Helsinki, between Joensuu and Kuopio. The town was founded in 1977, population in 31.12.2006 was 7743.

At the beginning of 20th century Outokumpu was a small village, but the discovery of copper ore in 1910 started development and industry. The mine function was closed in 1989, but because of its Old mine Outokumpu is still well-known in Finland.

Polvijärvi

Pure nature and lakes abounding in fish, that's Polvijärvi!

The municipality of Polvijärvi was founded in 1876. It followed lowering the water level in Lake Pielinen in 1859 as it had created a strong base for agriculture. Since that day agriculture has remained as an important source of income.

Polvijärvi is located about 40 km north-west of Joensuu. Beside the traditional village sightseeing, a traveller has plenty of possibilities to spend leisure time. The lake and hill sceneries of the municipality were occupied already in the Stone Age. Nowadays the nature of the area is very enjoyable.

In Polvijärvi a traveller can cruise on the wide waters of Lake Höytiäinen, refresh himself in the famous Huhmari Holiday Center, visit a summer theater, enjoy farm wine, go fishing or just enjoy living near nature in a cabin or in a farm environment.

Rääkkylä

Rääkkylä is a municipality of 2600 inhabitants in Central Karelia and it was founded in 1874. Rääkkylä is a community of islands, culture and enterprise that reflects the best traditional and modern aspects of the international world. Folk music, studying and pursuing of music and amateur theater are very active in Rääkkylä.

Tohmajärvi

Tohmajärvi, situated on the eastern border of Finland, at the intersection of the Blue Highway and the Via Karelia; a tranquil and easy-going county of about 5000 inhabitants.

The EU's most easterly border station, the third busiest crossing point to Russia in Finland, is located at Värtsilä-Niirala.

A rural district with a long and changeable history. It is part of the Lake Ladoga basin, which is apparent in the abundant wildlife and luxurious natural environment.

Come and get to know our past and experience our present. Be our guest.

Valtimo

Valtimo is the northernmost municipality of North Karelia. Typical landscapes are chains of hills and ridges, lakes and rivers, villages and wilderness.

Valtimo has over 3000 inhabitants and is situated in North Karelia. The area of the municipality is 838 square kilometers, of which 37 square kilometers is water. The municipality is dependent on agriculture and forestry. Also providing services is important.

In Valtimo a traveller can get close to real peace of nature and get to know the best of the Finnish wilderness. A wandering trip offers great experiences, and for a sport fisherman the environment is excellent.

In the Murtovaara Museum you can get familiar with old buildings, and the glass studio Korpinoita presents glass art. In the annual Valtimo Days one gets to know a traditional parish festival.