The Oulankajoki is a powerful river running east at an average altitude of 133m. Kiutaköngäs is a series of rapids (600m) swirling on red granite. A 2km path leads from the information centre to the waterfalls. The Bear Circuit, Karhunkierros ..

The Renaissance manor house was built in the 15C by Governor-General Herman Fleming. Carl Eric Mannerheim, later a senator of the autonomous Grand-Duchy of Finland, bought it in 1795. It was here that Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim , future Marshal o..

This camping and hiking resort is located at the edge of large, untouched spaces on the banks of River Kitkanjoki. The Bear circuit crosses the famous Niskakoski Rapids and Myllykoski via a rope footbridge. There are other impressive rapids wit..

The boat-shaped entrance to the museum is decorated with figureheads . One of the most famous sailing ships is Herzogin Cecile , which sank in the Channel in 1936 returning from a victory in a sea race. Visitors can see the captain's cabin, saloon ..

The convent church is the only vestige of the convent of the order of St Sauveur, founded by St Brigitte in 1443 and completed in 1462. Disbanded during the Reformation (16C), it became a Lutheran church. Among the treasures to be seen inside are..

This Lutheran church built by carpenter Klemetinpoika Leppänen has a Greek cross layout with arms of equal lengths. An octogonal dome with a ribbed vault, whose ridges have ochre and red motifs; the rest is in patinated natural pine. The pulpit , wh..

The historical quarter was the working centre of town until the 19C. It burned down in 1760; many of the fine wooden houses therefore date from the late 18C and early 19C. Charming little houses, brightly coloured with neat gardens, line the wind..

Built between the 14C and 16C, this grey-granite cathedral with decorated red-brick gables and a shingled roof often suffered damage. On 29 March 1809, the date of the creation of the autonomous Grand-Duchy, is also an important date for the cathedra..

The museum is housed in the former town hall, built in 1764. The collections date mainly from the 18C-19C. On the ground floor, harnesses, sledges, horse-drawn carriages and a collection of locks are on display. The first floor rooms are dedicated to..

Among the pieces exhibited, Vallgren's portrait (1886) and Edelfelt's bust illustrate the friendship between these two artists. Paintings by Johan Knutson (1816-1899), portraits by Nils Schillmark (1754-1804) and Iris ceramics and furniture (between ..

The home of Finland's national poet, Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-1877) is one of the town’s best-preserved Empire buildings. The interior remains as it was during the poet's last years. In the drawing room, note the bust of his father (1860) by Wal..

This elegant group of three slender buildings typifies the work of world-renowned architect Alvar Aalto (1898-1976), whose structures are characterised by rigorous modernity. At n°11, Lappia-talo (1975) houses the municipal theatre, concert hal..

At this bustling waterside market place with an almost Mediterranean feel, visitors mingle with inhabitants and the steamers await their contingent of tourists.

This triangular fortress with three towers on one side is dedicated to St Olav. It was built in 1475 by the governor of Viborg to protect the eastern provinces of the kingdom. It was extended, and two towers added in the 16-17C - these were razed w..

The town's administrative and cultural centre was designed by Alvar Aalto (1898-1976). It is dominated by the bell (64m) of the tower (1960). The lower part of the parish centre (1966) is to the left; next to it stands the ingenious construction ..

The museum comprises around 100 18C-19C buildings (numbers given here are those used by the museum). The Niemelä farm (7) demonstrates that saunas could be used as temporary shelter. Karuna church (8) is the oldest building (1686); the Carelian..

This grey-granite cathedral with a red roof was built from 1902 to 1907 by Lars Sonck in the national Romantic style. The medieval Gothic influence can be detected in the arrows of the towers and the pillars supporting the vault. Behind the high al..

The modern building, designed by Pekka Ilveskoski in 1979 and built on a hill overlooking Lake Näsijärvi, is a veritable artwork in itself. It houses the rich collection of the Sara Hildén Foundation , with more than 3 000 Finnish and international ..

This national park covers a vast territory of 2 530km2 reaching as far as the Russian border. Information on the walks and other activities in which you can participate is available at the Tankavaara reception centre , located on the E75 axis betw..

This Crafts Museum , founded in 1940 and better known as the Luostarinmäki open-air museum, has eighteen artisans' wooden houses , remaining in their original position and well preserved. In each one, visitors can see artisans at work in various wo..