Visit Karelia NORTH KARELIA IN FINLAND
NORTH KARELIA IN FINLAND For four distinct seasons, each with its own attractions. Summer in shades of green, a snowy frosty winter, the brief eruption of spring and the brilliant colours of autumn. Karelia in Finland is full of life and new experiences. Contents Koli.............................................................................3 Joensuu.................................................................... 4 Karelian kitchen.......................................................5 Karelian culture.................................................... 6-7 Karelian nature.....................................................8-9 Holiday Cottages............................................... 10-11 Visit Russia..............................................................12 Special family interest...........................................13 Maps and traveller facts.................................. 14-15
Karelia Expert Tourist Service Ltd is a full service Tourist Bureau and a professional Destination Management Company. We are pleased to help our guests and customers interested in Karelia and the Lake District by offering sightseeing tours and excursions and by arranging accommodation. We also help to plan and operate group tours in the region Karelia Expert Tourist Service Ltd Koskikatu 5, FI-80100 Joensuu Tourist Information: Tel. +358 400 239 549, visitkarelia@visitkarelia.fi Tours and excursions: Tel. +358 50 307 5556, sales@visitkarelia.fi
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THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE Koli is full of legends, culture, history – and above all glorious nature The highest hill in southern Finland, Koli (347 m) lies at the heart of the Finnish national landscape.
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ccording to local tradition Koli was a centre for pre-Christian religions where violent struggles between the forces of nature have created the magnificent and unique landscape we can see today. These same views inspired the works of such Finnish icons as composer Jean Sibelius, author Juhani Aho and artist Eero Järnefelt.
Heritage Centre Ukko is the information centre of Koli National Park with permanent and temporary exhibitions as well as multivision shows about the nature of Koli. The visitor services provided by the National Park and the rest of the Koli area include a full range of accommodation: hotels, holiday apartments, cottages, camping and hostel. In summer everything from hiking trails to fishing, in winter two Alpine skiing centres and many kilometres of Nordic skiing trails. Whether you enjoy individual activities or an organised programme, Koli has something for everyone, whatever the season!
The Finnish Stone Centre Finnish Stone Centre at Juuka, not far from Koli National Park, provides visitors a unique combination of stone experiences: a geo-data centre, soapstone quarries and their products, changing art exhibitions, a stone park and restaurant.
www.koli.fi
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The capital of Karelia in Finland Besides the university, science and business scene, Joensuu is also a lively cultural city with museums, theatre and music.
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zar Nikolai 1 of Russia chartered the town of Joensuu on the banks of the Pielisjoki river in 1848. Nowadays it is a lively university town, the capital of North Karelia. One-third of the population are schoolchildren or students. Carelicum Centre, just across the street from the market square, is home to the North Karelian Museum, which has changing and permanent exhibitions displaying the history and culture of the region. www.carelicum.fi The diverse permanent collections of the Joensuu Art Museum ONNI encompass Finnish as well as foreign art. The oldest objects date from 3000 years ago. The Museum also has annual exhibitions from home and abroad which complement the basic collection. The Bunker Museum is a section of World War II defensive fortifications called the Salpalinja. This was the largest construction project in Finnish history. The Arts and Crafts Quarter is a lively, year-round cultural area. It radiates nostalgia and tradition. Here you can find, for instance, small shops with their selections ranging from handicrafts to groceries, Cafe Kauppaneuvos with its delicious goods freshly baked on location, a smithy, the Taito Shop, as well as varying exhibitions. Botania is a botanical garden and tropical butterfly garden, open to the public year-round. The City Orchestra performs at Carelia Hall. The programme includes symphonic and light music. The City Theatre is located in the City Hall designed by Eliel Saarinen. The more traditional arts are given additional colour by Joensuu’s popular culture. Each summer the Ilosaarirock Festival draws about 50.000 fans. www.ilosaarirock.fi
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Karelian kitchen Karelia à la carte combines the best aspects of traditional cuisine with more modern tastes, laying stress on individuality in preparation and taking the fullest possible advantage of seasonal ingredients.
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ariety, abundance, nuance – three key words in the Karelian kitchen, typically based on local products such as fish and game, forest mushrooms and berries. Favourites include a bewildering variety of pies and pasties with names such as sultsina, tsupukka, pyörö, piirakka, kukkonen and vatruska. Throughout Karelia you’ll spot restaurants and country inns bearing the ‘Karelia à la Carte’ sign, a guarantee of genuine Karelian cuisine, a unique combination of the western kitchen with influences from the Russian kitchen and Orthodox traditions.
Restaurant Parppeinpirtti, standing on a hill near Ilomantsi, is a good place to sample genuine Karelian fare. The typical buffet includes a large selection of pies, fish, salads, mushrooms, casseroles, vegetables, stews. Desserts are usually based on local berries such as lingonberry, strawberry, bilberry and cloudberry. And don’t forget to try the local berry wines and liqueurs. The Bomba House Restaurant at the Karelian Village near Nurmes serves traditional buffet meals daily, as well as offering a tasty à la carte menu.
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KARELIAN When you come to Karelia you come to a borderland where East meets West. A place where the meeting of people has given rise to a unique and colourful culture. The visitor to Karelia enters a land of hospitality, joy and open, friendly people: a land of song. 6
CULTURE Karelia has been part of Finland since independence in 1917 but previous to this the country was ruled by both Sweden and Russia, with the Karelian border being repeatedly redrawn through the centuries, most recently after World War II.
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ieksa’s Pielinen Museum, the second largest open air museum in the country, traces the development of local building styles over the last 300 years through a collection of about 70 wooden buildings. Well worth a visit for anyone interested in history or architecture. Paateri, the creation of sculptress Eva Ryynänen (1915–2001), consists of her home, studio and a magnificent chapel in red pine, all displaying a wealth of her carvings in massive wood. Möhkö Village, lying near the Russian border in Ilomantsi, is a seemingly idyllic piece of Finnish countryside but has an industrial history displayed by the local ironworks museum standing on the banks of Koitajoki River. The surrounding area was also the scene of fierce fighting during World War II, signs of which can still be found.
At Parppeinvaara in Ilomantsi you’ll find a collection of historic buildings based on the theme of local tradition. These include Bard’s House, with handicrafts, traditional music and exhibitions; Border General’s Cabin, a wartime operational headquarters; Parppeinpirtti Restaurant, with a Karelian menu; and the Tsasouna, a small Orthodox chapel. Runopirtti also includes the permanent collection of the Kalevala epic in multiple translations.
Bomba House, at Nurmes, is a fine example of Karelian wooden architecture. Standing at the heart of a holiday village of logbuilt houses decorated in traditional style with carvings and ornamental paintings, Bomba can offer hotel accommodation, restaurant, a spa, souvenirs, an Orthodox chapel, a summer outdoor theatre and a broad range of activities in summer and winter. The nearby town of Nurmes has a heritage area of attractive wooden houses standing along birch-lined avenues. The House Museum of Murtovaara in Valtimo is protected and valuable part of cultural history. It gives a general view of the development of the peasant house from the 1700s to the present day. Throughout Karelia there are numerous Orthodox churches and chapels (called ‘tsasouna’), each having its own festival (‘praasniekka’) on the name day of its patron saint. The biggest of these is the Iljan Praasniekka (dedicated to the Prophet Elias) held at Ilomantsi around July 20th. The Orthodox Cultural Centre in Joensuu offers all those interested the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Orthodox culture and faith. The Center has permanent exhibitions about the Orthodox ecclesiastical year and its sacremental artefacts.
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ADVEN
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or Karelians the natural environment has always been much more than merely a source of livelihood. In the ancient religions nature was a sacred thing and the forces of the forests and waters were tangible things with which man had to live in harmony. The diversity of landscapes, flora and fauna in Karelia is enormous. In addition to extensive wilderness areas hikers are offered numerous signposted trails with marked areas for campfires and backwoods camping; but if you’re looking for something a little less basic there is a broad selection of cottages available. By keeping to marked trails visitors can see the countryside easily and at the same time minimise erosion.
Visitors to Karelia can find a broad spectrum of Finnish landscapes: rugged ridges, hills, marshes, backwoods, lakes and rivers with sandy beaches and islands galore. There are about 2000 lakes and with two thirds of the area covered by forest. The universal right of access enjoyed in Finland means freedom of movement in the countryside, including the right to pick wild berries and mushrooms. Some forms of fishing are also included, but in many cases require a licence, as does hunting. A safe way to see the large carnivores of the taiga forest is to spend a night in an animal watching lodge in the middle of wilderness. For example brown bears, wolverines, golden eagles and even wolves and lynxes can be seen.
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NTURES
ON LAND AND WATER
IN KARELIAN NATURE National parks Three beautiful national parks lie wholly within North Karelia; Koli, Petkeljärvi and Patvinsuo – while three others; Kolovesi, Tiilikka and Peurajärvi-Hiidenportti are partially located within the province. Koli, with its spectacular views over the hills and lakeland scenery, is the most popular national park in North Karelia. It also offers the best visitor facilities centred at the Heritage Centre Ukko. Petkeljärvi, with camping and hostel accommodation, lies near the eastern border and is mainly composed of forested sandy ridges among sparkling lakes.
The most remote of the three is Patvinsuo, an internationally important mire conservation and research area with almost nonexistent facilities for daytrippers. Though very different in character all three parks offer the outdoor enthusiast opportunities for such activities as hiking, skiing, canoeing and fishing. Another spot ideal for lovers of the outdoors is Ruunaa Recreational Area with whitewater boating, fishing, hiking, cycling and skiing. Ruunaa Visitor Centre offers information and an exhibition of the area.
What better way to see Finnish Lakeland than from the water? One alternative to a long drive is the carferry across Lake Pielinen between Lieksa and Koli, a two-hour trip which gives excellent views of the National Park. From Joensuu there are short cruises on the waters of Lake Pyhäselkä or through the Pielisjoki river scenery. For those with more time there are regular sailings between Joensuu and Koli. There are boat trips available on Lake Höytiäinen from both Kontiolahti and Huhmari Holiday Centre in Polvijärvi. In the southern parts of the region Kitee and Kesälahti also offer lake cruises.
Canoeists will also find lots of routes to paddle in Karelia. While it’s a good idea to tackle the more challenging rivers and rapids only with a guide, you can quite well paddle on the easier lakes and waterways without assistance. Guided canoeing tours are arranged in such places as Ilomantsi near the Russian border, on the Jongunjoki River in Lieksa and on the Jänisjoki River at Tuupovaara. In the Ruunaa rambling area you can take part in river trips lasting for several hours, in which you can shoot the rapids in a wooden boat or on a rubber raft and helping to paddle it through these fastmoving waters. A delicious wilderness lunch is also provided. 9
Rent a cottage The forests and lakes of Karelia offer the visitor a tremendous range of accommodation for a rural holiday, everything from remote basic log cabins to magnificent country homes.
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eather you seek a magnificent country house or a modest little log cabin, you are sure to find accommodation to suit your tastes in Karelia. Holiday cottages for hire are usually to be found at the waterside and are generally rented by week. Many holiday cottages are also fit for winter habitation.
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The rents vary according to the standard and furnishings of the cottage. The price includes pots and pans, firewood, as well as the use of the sauna in most of the cottages and in normal case a rowing boat. Using your cottage as a base, you can go out picking berries and mushrooms or just visit local places of interest.
BOOK ONLINE: WWW.VISITKARELIA.FI Choosing just the right cottage for you is easy. Just go to our Online Reservation System at www.visitkarelia.fi, select your criteria in the search fields and make your pick!
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A different world on your doorstep.
Visit Russia
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here are two Karelias right next door to one another with only a border in-between. These are two quite different worlds. In Finnish Karelia you are at the easternmost border of the Western World, while just over the border you are already in the East, in a world where the past is still present. Only an hour’s drive from Joensuu you can cross into Russia at the Värtsilä border crossing. From there it’s only another hour to Ladoga, Europe’s biggest lake, with its unique monastery islands. Visas are required for visiting Russia.
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Special family interest When travelling with your family you want to make sure that also the little ones are happy. Here are some of our best places of interest for families.
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ajarinhovi Zoo at Kitee has over 100 species on view along a 2-kilometre trail, everything from local bears to exotic ostriches. Nearby there are lakeside holiday cottages, cruises on the lake, and a popular venue for dancing. In april 2010 also a waterpark has opened in the Pajarinhovi area.
Outokumpu is the home of a former copper mine, in production up to the 1980s. Now a museum tracing the history of mining and visitors can still prospect for minerals.
PikkuKili Zoo, near Lieksa, has its own nature trail on a forested hill, along which you can see reindeer, wild boars and farm animals. A perfect place for a family picnic.
Särkiselkä recreational area, near Outokumpu, has something for everyone, with special attention devoted to making trails, fishing and other services accessible to those with special needs, including the physically handicapped, seniors and children.
Kid’s Street inside Carelicum in Joensuu is just what the name says, a small street with child-sized houses, toys, activities and competent staff.
Särkiselkä Fishing Oasis in Outokumpu provides fishing and other outdoor activities especially designed with youngsters in mind.
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Š Karttakeskus Oy, Helsinki.
Traveller facts Location: easternmost region in Finland; border with Russia for 300 km; much of the region lies east of Istanbul and even Cairo. Area: 21 500 sq. kms, stretching over 200 km north to south, 100 km east to west. Population: 170 000
You can travel by air from the great cities of Europe to the peace and quiet of Karelia in just a few hours. International flights arrive in Helsinki with connecting flights to Joensuu.
Towns: Joensuu (pop. 74 500), Lieksa (12 300), Kitee (11 300), Nurmes (8 200), Outokumpu (7 200) Waterways: almost 4 000 sq. kms Lakes: 2 000 (approx.), biggest is L. Pielinen, 4th largest in Finland. Forest: covers approx. 70% of the region; European Forest Institute headquarters in Joensuu. Hills: include Koli (347m), highest point in southern Finland. Holiday cottages: 20 000 approx.
Distances from Joensuu: Ilomantsi.............................. 72 km Hein채vesi.............................. 80 km Outokumpu........................ 46 km Kitee........................................ 69 km Lieksa..................................... 97 km Nurmes............................... 129 km Helsinki.............................. 440 km
Oulu
Kuopio
Joensuu
Helsinki
St. Petersburg
Oslo Stockholm
Tallinn Moscow
Transport: By car: From Helsinki along Highway 5 via Lahti and Varkaus or along Highway 6 via Lappeenranta: approx. 5,5 hours. By train: Trains 6 times a day from Helsinki and 4 times a day from Turku: approx. 4,5 hours. By air: 3-6 daily flights from Helsinki: 55-65 min.
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Tourist information • Group reservations • Holiday cottages and other accommodation • Maps, guide books • Tickets to local events and cruises
North Karelia and Joensuu Tourist Info
Ilomantsi Tourist Info
Koli Tourist Info
Koskikatu 5, 80100 JOENSUU joensuu@visitkarelia.fi tel. +358 400 239 549 fax. +358 13 123 933
Kalevalantie 13, 82900 ILOMANTSI ilomantsi@visitkarelia.fi tel. +358 400 240 072 fax. +358 13 883 270
Koli tourism association Ylä-Kolintie 2, 83960 KOLI info@koli.fi tel. +358 45 138 7429
Central Karelia Tourist Info
Nurmes-Valtimo Tourist Info
Lieksa Tourist Info
Koskikatu 5, 80100 JOENSUU keski-karjala@visitkarelia.fi tel. +358 400 606 946
Kauppatori 3, 75500 NURMES nurmes@visitkarelia.fi tel. +358 50 336 0707
Pielisentie 22, 81700 LIEKSA lieksa@visitkarelia.fi tel. +358 400 175 323
HOLIDAY COTTAGES bookings@visitkarelia.fi tel. +358 400 239 619 SALES sales@visitkarelia.fi tel. +358 50 307 5556 CONGRESS SERVICES arja.hukkanen@kareliaexpert.fi tel. +358 50 528 9634
Design and layout: Entra Ky · Print: Grano · Please note: All information in this brochure was gathered in September 2014. Changes may occur. · Karelia Expert Tourist Service Ltd | 09/2014