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Photo: Klaus von Matt

 

Photo: Klaus von Matt

 

Rimpi

Rimpi

The Vartius border crossing point is located on a culturally and historically significant place, on the grounds of the Rimpi village. Rimpi is one of the villages in Finland that are part of the Viena Karelian cultural area.

A man from Rimpi village, known as Uljaska of Rimpi, or Elias Ahtonen, served as the model for Väinämöinen in Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s paintings and illustrations of Kalevala.

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Sights and Attractions in Rimpi

Sights and Attractions in Rimpi

The Rimpi Village has a big cultural and historical significance. A man called the Uljaska of Rimpi, a.k.a. Elias Ahtonen, lived there and served as the model for Väinämöinen in Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s iconic paintings and illustrations of Kalevala. Many enthusiastics of Carelia went through Rimpi on their way to Viena Carelia. There are many interesting attractions to see in the village although it is uninhabited at the moment. In summertime there are people living in the village.

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According to tradition, the village of Rimpi was founded in the mid 1800s by Eljas, or Uljaska, Ahtonen. Ahtonen later became famous after acting as the model for Väinämöinen in 1890, when the Finnish national artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela painted his most significant Kalevala painting, the Aino Triptych.

Rimpi was the gateway to Viena via Kuhmo for poetry collectors and Karelianists.

Rimpi