Scan Magazine | Travel Feature | Puijo Tower
The perfect view over Finnish Lakeland Take in the spectacular views from Kuopio’s most distinctive landmark, the Puijo Tower, while enjoying a meal in its rotating restaurant. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the observation tower, which continues to draw visitors from near and far. By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Courtesy of Puijon Huippo Oy
Standing on top of the 150-metre-high Puijo hill, the scenery that stretches out in different directions includes forests, lakes and the centre of Kuopio, a city set in central Finland and the Finnish Lakeland region. Known as a popular lookout spot since the early 19th century, the views from the hill have delighted both citizens and travellers to Kuopio, and inspired celebrated artists, who have written and sung about the beauty of the landscape. “The view from the tower is exceptionally vast and beautiful. One on side, you have untouched nature, and on the other, the city centre. On a clear day, you can see as far as 60 kilometres in all directions. Here,
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you can witness the nature of the Finnish lake district in all its magnificence and splendour,” says Tiina Heinonen from Puijon Huippu Oy. The 75-metre-high Puijo Tower, with its top reaching 306 metres above sea level, is the third observation tower on the same spot. The first tower, a 16-metre-high construction out of wood, was built in 1856, while 50 years later, a 24-metrehigh brick tower replaced it.
Puijo towers, the old brick tower and the new tower. Photo by Eino Malm, 1963. Source: Kuopio Cultural History Museum.
When Puijo Tower opened in 1963, it quickly became a popular attraction, with around 200,000 visitors in its first year.