Road of Poem and Border

The Road of Poem and Border is the oldest official tourism route in Finland. The Road runs from the Gulf of Finland to Salla, following the eastern border for 1,080km.

In the south, the Road of Poem and Border is characterised by several lakes, ”the Lakeland” comprising lakes Saimaa, Pihlajavesi and Puruvesi. Lake Ladoga has an impact on the climate as far as Parikkala.

In North Karelia, the topography gets more diversified, best examples of which can be seen in the peaks of Koli, part of the oldest bedrock formation in Finland, and the great Lake Pielinen.

In Kainuu, the Road travels through large forests and wilderness.

Up north, the fences marking the reindeer management area are a sign of entering Lapland, its fells and wilderness.

In 2002, the Road was nominated as an official tourism route by the Road Administration, and it was marked with international tourism route signs in 2003–2004.

Via Karelia ∙ PL 34, 80101 Joensuu ∙ www.viakarelia.fi ∙ [email protected] Road of Poem and Border

Lappeenranta in Finland. Via the international border Tourist Information of Koli crossing at Niirala you can get quickly over Ylä-Kolintie 2, Koli, Tel. +358 45 138 7429 Lappeenranta has been growing at the in- [email protected], www.koli.fi tersection of eastern and western cultures the border into wonderful Russian Karelian for centuries. Lappeenranta was granted scenery. Please note that EU citizens re- Nurmes the rights of a city in 1649. The best exam- quire a visa to travel to Russia. Nurmes is surrounded by vast, forested ple of both Swedish and Russian influences Itähuolinta, Ysitien Portti, Kauppatie 4 A, Niirala hills and the northern part of Lake Pielinen. may probably be found in the oldest part of Tel. +358 500 164 351, [email protected] the city: the Fortress. Municipal office,Järnefeltintie 1, Tohmajärvi On the outskirts of the town, the Bomba Tel. +358 40 105 4015, +358 40 105 4028 house and Karelian village show the many A train ride from Vainikkala railway station to [email protected] sides of rich Karelian culture. St. Petersburg only takes an hour and a half. The Nuijamaa border crossing point is situat- Joensuu As of the beginning of 2020, Nurmes also ed some 30 kilometres from Lappeenranta. contains Valtimo, the northernmost area of Joensuu is the provincial capital of North North Karelia. Each summer, the largest sandcastle in Karelia, situated on the northern shore of Tourist Information Bomba Finland is built near the Fortress at the tip Lake Pyhäselkä at the mouth of Pielisjoki Tel. +358 50 406 6122, [email protected] of Cape Linnoitusniemi. River, and it is the second largest city in Tourist Information of Lappeenranta Eastern Finland by population. The city’s Kuhmo Shopping centre IsoKristiina, Brahenkatu 5 atmosphere is created by the Pielisjoki River Kuhmo has a famous annual chamber Tel. +358 5 667 788, [email protected] that runs through the city centre and the music festival. Kuhmo is the largest mu- www.visitlappeenranta.fi, www.gosaimaa.com diverse service offering found there – not nicipality in Europe by area, and bears and to forget the market square and the hustle Imatra other apex predators are abundant in the and bustle of Karelian life. There are seven coniferous forests, or taiga. In the summertime, one may marvel at the bridges that cross the river within city limits. foams of Finland’s oldest tourist attraction, The cityscape is commanded by the city hall Kuhmo as many nature activities and a mu- the Imatrankoski Rapids, in special rapids designed by Eliel Saarinen and completed seum commemorating the Winter War. shows. There is also a grand castle hotel in 1914. Tourist Information of Kuhmo that stands by the rapids. The Imatrankoski City of Joensuu, Rantakatu 20, 80100 Joensuu City Library, Pajakkakatu 2, 88900 KUHMO Rapids, surrounded by Finland’s first Tel. +358 13 267 7111, [email protected] Tel.+358 44 725 5307 national park, are even mentioned in the www.joensuu.fi [email protected], www.kuhmo.fi Kalevala. Furthermore, there are two spas Suomussalmi in Imatra. Ilomantsi As evidenced by hundreds of Stone Age Tourist Information of Imatra Region lomantsi is known for its happy people, Tel. +358 20 617 7777, [email protected] living sites and rock paintings on Värikallio, as well as its location as the easternmost www.gosaimaa.com, www.vuodenparasloma.fi in the Hossa National Park, the region has continental municipality in Finland and in been inhabited for thousands of years. Parikkala the EU. Ilomantsi has many sites of military history, and our national epic Kalevala The only White Karelian (Viena) villages in The internationally renowned collection of comes alive here. The Orthodox faith is Finland are in Suomussalmi: Kuivajärvi and outsider art in the Parikkala Sculpture Park very prominent in Ilomantsi. The region is Hietajärvi. is an interesting destination along Main known for wilderness, apex predators and Suomussalmi is also famous for many Road 6. Siikalahti is Finland’s most precious Karelian culture. battle sites of the Winter War, mainly the bird lake and it is an interesting hiking Raate Road. destination for bird watchers, nature pho- Hospitality, folklore, kantele music and tographers and families alike. In addition to traditional dishes are important parts of Tourist Information of Suomussalmi watching birds, Parikkala also offers village the rich Karelian heritage. Ilomantsi has the Jalonkaarre 5, 89600 Suomussalmi Tel. +358 44 777 3250 scenery, churches and museums. largest wooden Orthodox church in Finland. [email protected], www.visitsuomussalmi.fi www.visitparikkala.fi Many memorials mark the battle sites of the Second World War. Kuusamo Kitee Tourist Information of Ilomantsi during summer: Kuusamo is a paradise for a nature lover. Parppeinvaara Bardic Village, Tel. +358 50 337 7379 The area has had permanent inhabitants Oulanka National Park is located in the as early as in the 15th century. There are Tourist Information year round: northern part of the municipality. The Park visitilomantsi.fi, Tel. +358 50 337 7379 many marked nature trails, where you can has rugged ravines, rapids and hills. There’s get a good idea of the local nature: groves, Lieksa a vast network of routes for hiking, canoe- ridges, lakes, and mires. ing and motor sledging. Lieksa is located between Lake Pielinen and Kitee can also offer large waterways with the Russian frontier. The main attractions Kuusamo Info lodging services, beach life, boating and Tel. +358 40 860 8365, [email protected] are Koli and Ruunaa rapids. The peaks of fishing. Koli are remnants of a mountain chain, Tourism Centre Karhuntassu Torangintaival 2, 93600 Kuusamo Tourist Information of Kitee during summer: millions of years old. The views from Koli Kitee Tourist Information – A Nightwish Story are central imagery of Finnish national Kiteentie 13, 82500 Kitee, Tel. +358 40 105 1020 Salla romanticism. Sovintola, Pyhäjärventie 8, Kesälahti, The municipality is located in East Lapland, Tel. +358 40 105 2008 One can immerse themselves in history at almost entirely above the Arctic Circle. The the Pielinen Museum, the second largest Other times [email protected] local winter sports centre is on the Sallatun- outdoor museum in Finland, situated turi fell. You can find wilderness in the north- Tohmajärvi near the Lieksa city centre, as well as in ern part of the municipality, in Tuntsa. Salla the Monola Granary where composer The municipality is characterised by forest- has an international border crossing point. Jean Sibelius and his wife Aino spent their ed hills and large mires. The grove zone of Tourist Information of Salla honeymoon. Vuonisjärvi offers the atelier Lake Ladoga is very lush and impressive. Myllytie 1, 98900 Salla of sculptor Eva Ryynänen and the beautiful Tel. +358 400 269 838, [email protected] The main cultural attraction is the region’s wooden Paateri Church. oldest wooden church in Kirkkoniemi, Tourist Information of Lieksa dating back to 1756. The location has been Pielisentie 3, Lieksa, Tel. +358 40 1044 680 called the most beautiful spot for a church [email protected], www.lieksa.fi