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Ontrei Malisen's Kantele Tour Route
Finnish culture and Finnish identity as a whole are rooted in Kainuu and Viena Karelia through the Kalevala. The majority of the Kalevala's poetic material comes from the folklore villages of Viena. In Kainuu, Elias Lönnrot was inspired to begin collecting poetic material for Finland's national epic.
For Elias Lönnrot and later Karelianists, Kainuu was the gateway to Viena Karelia. Today as well, the easiest path to our culture's roots runs straight through Kainuu.
Ontrei Malinen's Kantele Route has been created to guide a self-organized tour. Services found along the route are explained on these pages. You will find more information about the travel services available during different seasons in Kuhmo and Suomussalmi through Wild Taiga.
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Voknavolok (Vuokkiniemi)
In the times when folklore collectors roamed the area collecting oral tradition, Voknavolok was the central parish, and nearly all the significant runo-song villages lay within its territory. Thanks to its indigenous Karelian population it still is one of the most prominent Viena Karelian villages.
One will find information on Voknavolok on the web site of the Vuokkiniemi Society at www.vuokkiniemi.net/
NB! If you are going to visit Sudnozero or Voinitsa we recommend you to read information about the villages beforehand. Network connection doesn't work properly there.
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Kajaani
Elias Lönnrot lived in Kajaani from 1833 to 1853. During that time, manuscripts of the Kalevala epic and the collection of lyric poems Kanteletar were created, along with many other notable literary works.
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Sotkamo
Sotkamo - a tourist town - is located midway between Kajaani and Kuhmo. Sotkamo offers a wide range of services for an active vacation. More information about the attractions and services in Sotkamo and in Vuokatti.
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Kuhmo
Kuhmo is renowned for its ever-changing cultural events. The year begins with the Kuhmo Winter event, and culminates in July with the internationally acclaimed festivals, Sommelo and the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, which offer a wide range of music for their audiences. A cavalcade of events titled “Jolly July” offers much to see and experience for children and young people in Kuhmo.
The Information Centre for the Kalevala and Karelian Culture “Juminkeko”organises thematic exhibitions about Kalevala all the year round, and there one can also watch multimedia programmes about the Finnish national epic, Kareliansim – an important trend of Romantic national movement in Finland in the 19th century – and Karelian culture. These programmes have been made with various approaches to suit audiences of different ages, from children under school age to grandparents.
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Border Crossing
The international border crossing point between Finland and Russia, Vartius - Lyttä, is open every day 07.00-21.00. The border crossing point is situated between the towns of Kuhmo, Finland and Kostamuksha, Russia.
The border can be crossed by motor vehicle or by bicycle.
One must have a visa to enter Russia. Getting a visa takes at least 10 days.
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Viena Karelian villages in Finland
Currently, there are two inhabited Viena Karelian villages In Finland, the Kuivajärvi and Hietajärvi villages in Suomussalmi, and the historic Rimpi village in Kuhmo. All the Finnish Viena Karelian villages have their own significance in cultural history.
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Kostamuksha
Building the town of Kostomuksha was directly linked with the establishment of an iron mine and refinery nearby. The construction of this new town near a former Kontokki village was carried out as an extensive Finnish-Soviet co-operation project in the years 1973–1985. At present, there are a little over 30,000 inhabitants in Kostomuksha. The Culture and Museum Centre of Kostomuksha cherish and preserve the cultural traditions of this developing town and the regional history in many ways. There is a spa-type swimming pool and a variety of wellbeing services available in Kostomuksha. One will find an extensive list of Kostomuksha’s services on its web site.
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Sudnozero (Venehjärvi)
From Voknavolok one may also visit the Sudnozero village, which lies in the middle of the Kalevala national park. Dining and accommodation services are also provided in the village. Reservations are recommended.
The wilderness forest area of Vienansalo, around the runo-song villages of Western Viena Karelia, has been granted national park status. In the Kalevala National Park one can experience the true peace of nature, listen to the sounds of the wilderness and to its silence, and roam in a virgin forest. There one may spot a multitude of animals in their natural habitat.
NB! We recommend you to read these pages beforehand because the network connection doesn't work properly in Sudnozero.
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Kalevala (Uhtua)
Kalevala is a town with much to see and experience. The visitor can view traditional craftsmanship in a temporary “Kalevala House”. The local museum, run by the District Administration, and the local Uhut Society, offer guidance for tourists. Another interesting place to visit is the printing press museum, which used to be a hand typesetting printing press where the district newspaper was printed for decades.
The annual village feast takes place in Kalevala in the middle of June, and the Sommelo Festival runs in the beginning of July.
There are two hotels in Kalevala, Sampo and Welt. The Kotiranta Travel Agency also offers guest house type accommodation.
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Voinitsa
Voinitsa may be considered as important as Latvajärvi village, which is considered to be the most significant runo-song village of Viena Karelia. Voinitsa has gained its fame through the great runo singers Ontrei Malinen and Vaassila Kieleväinen.
NB! We recommend you to read these pages beforehand because the network connection doesn't work properly in Voinitsa.
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Haikola
Haikola is a small, idyllic Viena Karelian village. It is renowned both for its ancient runo-singer masters and especially for the national author, Ortjo Stepanov who came from this village and wrote a major part of his works there.
There is an Ethno-Cultural Centre in Haikola, comprising Ortjo Stepanov’s home which is now a museum, an ethnological museum, exhibition premises in the main building and a concert hall, which serves also as an auditorium for seminars and lectures.
The concluding day of the Sommelo Ethno Music Festival always takes place in Haikola. The performances in Haikola are more than just concerts. The acoustic ambience of the village lends itself for creating soundscapes that will live on for years in the minds of those who experience them.
It is possible to hire a room in Haikola by reservation in advance also at times, when there are no organised events taking place.
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Panozero (Paanajärvi)
In terms of architecture the village of Panozero is the best preserved settlement of the White Sea (Viena) Karelia. Besides, it is the last indigenously Karelian village in the region of Kem. The village of Panozero is remarkable not only due to its architecture, but also because of the traditions in spoken and applied arts, since right here throughout many centuries a peculiar bridge was built between the Karelian and Russian cultures. As a result, the Karelian inhabitants of the village were practically bilingual due to close contacts with the coastline of the White Sea.
The village became famous due to the threat of submersion because of a water power plant construction; it was included in the List of World Heritage in Danger by the World Monuments Watch Foundation — at first in time period between 1996 and 2001 and later twice more. Later the renovation was started, but in 2006 the village of Panozero received an award from the organisation Europa Nostra as a form of highest recognition for the work done in preservation of cultural heritage and environment of Europe.
The visitors of Panozero have an opportunity to plunge into the traditional life of locals and experience the whole range of impressions, while seeing a wonderful museum, among others. Several craftsmen are working in the village, and they offer an opportunity to purchase the mats, embroideries, etc, as well as the souvenirs made by the children. At the pottery ceramic vessels are made for the household use and sale. The local craftsmen have set up the manufacture of wooden boats, as well as construction of turnkey black saunas.
NB! We recommend you to read these pages beforehand because the network connection doesn't work properly in Panozero.
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Yushkozero
Yushkozero is the Venice of Viena Karelia. It spreads across three islands and onto the mainland in the delta of the river Kem. Suspension bridges, leading from one island to another are characteristic of the village scenery.
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