Lapland; the very name captivates the imagination. Around 75 000 Sami today inhabit this northern part of the Scandinavian peninsula, and their territory (Sápmi) extends from the west coast of Norway, heading north and east towards Sweden, Finland an..

Work of town planner Ehrenström and architect Carl Ludvig Engel , Senate Square comprises a collection of monumental buildings typifying the aristocratic elegance of neo-Classicism. The senate building was completed in 1820, the university in 1832..

At the beginning of the 20C, painters, writers and composers would make pilgrimages to the summit of Koli (347m altitude), which dominates the west bank of Lake Pielinen. The magnificent panorama reveals an enchanting, peaceful landscape, with isla..

This national park is Europe’s largest woodland park, covering an area of 2 855km2. The holiday village and reception centre at Njurgalahti can be reached by car and is an ideal starting point for walks. The valley of the River Lemmenjoki, Leämmi, ..

This is a charming old town with wooden houses dating from the 17C and 18C. The historical centre is best visited by foot: the 15C Franciscan Holy Cross Church (Pyhän Ristin kirkko) near to River Raumanjoki; the market place ( Kauppatori ) alongs..

An ingenious underground construction (by Birch-Bonderup-Thorup and Waade, 1992) crowned with an elongated dome which, on the surface, looks like an ice tunnel. Two exhibitions dedicated to living conditions in the Arctic are shown here. The Arctic ..

Kankainen Chapel (near the chancel, north side) houses a black marble funeral monument dedicated to the Finnish wife of King Erik XIV. In St George's Chapel rest bishops Hemming (who died in 1366) and Gezelius (father and son), pioneers of Finnis..

The main castle boasts many admirable features: the porter's lodge with its friezes (c 1530), Sture Chapel (1480) and its medieval religious sculptures, the nuns' chapel and its Gothic Virgin Mary (14C) and finally the king's room with its Edelfelt..

Dating from around 1320, this brick church is a fine example of Finnish medieval ecclesiastical architecture. The frescoes and wall paintings , executed around 1510-1520, mainly illustrate scenes from the Life of Christ. They resemble those in Lohja..

In 1903, sculptor Emil Wikström (1864-1942) took up residence in this spelendidly situated building on the shore of Lake Vanajavesi and worked in its lovely studio until 1912. Among the objects on show are original plaster moulds and maquettes of s..

Mostly water and forest, this region has some of the most attractive and quintessentially Finnish scenery in the country. More than 10 000 years ago, the ice sheet covering Finland created a highly complex landscape of lakes, ridges and rocky outcrop..

This important collection of artworks, including masterpieces from the golden age of Finnish art , belonged to a leading figure in the paper industry, Gösta Serlachius (1876-1942). It is on show in the Joenniemi manor house, designed in 1935 by Jarl..

The River Tornio’s most important rapids run for a total of 3.5km, forming a picturesque backdrop for ochre-red huts belonging to fishermen who, in keeping with tradition, net their fish before grilling them over an open fire. Visitors have the oppor..

This large three-nave church dates from the 15C. The walls and vaulting are covered in frescoes depicting Biblical scenes ranging from the Garden of Eden to the Last Judgement. The influence of Swedish artist Albertus Pictor is evident. Painted bet..

A rich businessman, F.A. Juselius, had this monument built in memory of his daughter Sigrid, who died in 1898 at the age of eleven. He commissioned Gallen-Kallela to decorate the interior with frescoes (1901-1903), but humidity and later a fire des..

The historic Sepänmäen käsityömuseo village is a living museum which keeps traditions alive with its 20 houses and 14 workshops, offering an authentic picture of 18C-19C life complete with demonstrations of traditional trades.

The world’s northernmost zoological park ( eläinpuisto ) is home to around 60 arctic species, including polar bears, and birds. The animals live in their natural surroundings in vast enclosures. An easy 3km stony path leads around the park.

Running for some 7km in length and rising in places to a height of 30m, the ridge is in fact a moraine deposited here during the Ice Age. It lies between Lake Pihlajavesi and Lake Puruvesi , and in places is no wider than the old road running alon..

This “fishermen’s paradise” is also an ideal region for walkers, with nearly 100km of signposted paths. The excellent fishing is thanks to the 130 lakes, ponds and rivers in the area. Rare virgin forest and some of the world’s most northerly ancient ..

Finland’s southeast coast is dotted with thousands of islands, which emerged slowly from the water with the retreat of the ice sheet covering Scandinavia. This Finnish archipelago is comparable in beauty to the islands of the Aegean. It stretches fro..