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South Karelia Art Museum
This art museum has a permanent collection of modern paintings by Karelian and other Finnish artists. A large part of the space is devoted to temporary exhibitions, often featuring local artists.
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Ski
In summer you can take a chairlift up to this observation terrace at the top of the ski jumps at the Lahden Urheilukeskus; great if there’s someone practising, and good for the views in any event.
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Mattilan Porotila
Mattilan Porotila , at Riipi, 26km southwest of Sodankylä, is a family-run farm where you can meet and feed the reindeer or go on sleighing trips with them in winter. Phone ahead to arrange a visit.
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Kainuun Museo
The town museum, near the train station, has a good permanent exhibition on Kajaani’s history, including info on the castle, tar boats and Elias Lönnrot. There are also regular temporary exhibitions.
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Toy Museum
The delightful Toy Museum is a private collection of hundreds of dolls and almost as many teddy bears – the personal achievement of Piippa Tandefelt. The cafe here serves delicious homemade apple pie.
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Kotka Church
Kotka Churchs distinctive steeple is visible throughout town. Inside the neo-Gothic church there’s artful woodcarving, a resounding baroque-style organ and a beautiful altarpiece painted by Pekka Halonen.
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Vesikko
The Vesikko is the only WWII-era submarine remaining in Finland. It saw action against the Russians. It’s fascinating to climb inside and see how it all worked. Needless to say, there’s not much room to move.
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Jakobstads Museum
Finland’s richest man, shipping magnate Otto Malm, was the last person to live in Malm House. On his death in 1898, the house became Jakobstads Museum, with displays on the shipping industry and local history.
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Bladh House
One of the town’s highlights is 18th-century Bladh House , a restored burgher house that was one of the first in Kaskinen. It’s a solid, impressive sight with its trapezoid roof, characteristic of the period.
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Sankt Olof’s Kyrka
Jomala’s Sankt Olaf’s Kyrka dates back to the 12th century. It’s still possible to make out a lion’s jaw with a human head inside in the worn stonework, which was originally worked on by Italian stonemasons.
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Orthodox Church of Saints Peter & Paul
Topped by a classic onion dome, the 1837 Orthodox Church of Saints Peter & Paul, on the southeastern side of the town hall, is the work of architect Louis Visconti, who designed Napoleon’s mausoleum.
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Eino Leino
The Eino Leino-Talo is a re-creation of the place where Leino, one of Finland’s foremost independence-era poets, was born in 1878. It’s a lovely lakeside spot, with a cafe as well as photos and memorabilia.
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Villa Gyllenberg
This private gallery in a lovely island situation has a fine collection of golden-age and 20th-century Finnish art, supplemented by rotating exhibitions. Buses 194 and 195 from Elielinaukio will take you there.
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Suomen Kivikeskus
Thirteen kilometres south of Juuka, Suomen Kivikeskus is an exhaustive look at Finnish geology and the use of stone. It’s almost compulsory to sneak a photo in the giant armchairs of the sculpture garden.
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Post Museum
The Post Museum was closed for renovations at the time of research but the collection offers a fascinating insight into stamps, computerised data banks and the role postcards have played in Finland’s history.
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Old Customs House
In the ports heyday, travellers entering Kristinestad had to pay customs duty, collected at the Old Customs House, a smallish rust-wood building dating from 1720, just along from the imposing town hall.
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Arctic Academy
Arctic Academy has a pricey, but informative aurora borealis audiovisual show at its Aurora House, 11km southeast of Sodankylä. In winter it arranges various activities including excursions to see the lights.
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Aineen Taidemuseo
The attractive modern Tornio gallery comprises the private collection of Veli Aine, a local business tycoon. It displays Finnish art from the 19th and 20th centuries, and has decent temporary exhibitions and a good cafe.
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Marela
Marela is the most interesting of Rauma’s museums and one of its most elaborate buildings. The preserved home of a wealthy 19th-century merchant family is furnished with antiques, wall paintings and Swedish ceramic stoves.
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Ruotsinpyhtää Church
Ruotsinpyhtääs 18th-century oPyhtääctagonal wooden church, built after the old one was lost across yet another Sweden–Russia border change, has a fabulous altarpiece painted in 1898 by the young Helene Schjerfbeck.
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