Discover Luhanka: churches, waterways and a cycling route

Luhanka offers several very different reasons to shape your trip: a summer church with remarkable acoustics, traces of history in Reeth, a water route across Päijänne and a southern route in the Lakeland by Cycle network. There is also Mämminiemi beach and other activities in the municipality. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can start by considering whether culture, water or active days on two wheels will shape your stay.

Churches and history in Luhanka

Luhanka Summer Church was inaugurated on 1 October 1893, Michaelmas Day. It was designed by architect Josef Stenbäck, who used the plans for Hankasalmi Church as a model. Its furnishings include the altarpiece “Jeesus seisoo ovella ja kolkuttaa” (“Jesus stands at the door and knocks”), painted by Selinda Danielsson in 1906. Eva Sofia Jutila funded the painting. The church’s excellent acoustics earned it a reputation as a concert church.

The way the building is used also shapes its character: the summer church is unheated and has no electric lighting. It is therefore used only in summer, when it also serves as a roadside church. This makes it a distinct seasonal highlight for trip planning, alongside historical details that can be appreciated year-round. Visitors interested in Luhanka’s church history will find architecture and art here, as well as a clearly defined summer use.

Another historical site is the old church and cemetery area of Reeth. A rare fence made from log coffins and burial chambers has been preserved there. Reeth Church was built in 1766 and dismantled in 1892. In 1956, the municipality of Luhanka erected a memorial on its site. Note the unusual access arrangements when visiting: you must park your car more than 100 metres away, then follow a grassy path to the site.

Water route, harbour and beach

A water route across Päijänne leads to Luhanka, and boats can reach the centre of the church village. The harbour at Hakulintie 6 has paid long-term and guest moorings for boats. There are also two free drinking-water points near the harbour. Visitors arriving in Luhanka by water will find practical information here to help them navigate their arrival and the harbour area.

For a day at the beach, the municipality maintains Mämminiemi beach. It has a sandy shore, a jetty and bathing steps. Tammijärvi beach is another option for swimming; it can be reached along a sand road below and behind the school. These two beaches can be included in your trip plans as separate places to enjoy the water.

Cycling and other experiences

The southern connecting route of the Lakeland by Cycle network passes through Luhanka. The network links natural attractions, sights and services in Central Finland, mainly via gravel roads and forest roads. Overall, the routes are considered very easy to ride and are rated 5 to 6 out of 10 on a difficulty scale. Both the road surface and the stated difficulty can help you plan your trip, while the southern connection gives cycling in Luhanka a specific route to follow.

Luhanka can also be included in a road trip: the route known as “Finland’s most beautiful scenic road” runs from Vääksy via Pulkkilanharju, Kalkkinen, Sysmä and Luhanka to Korpilahti. If you are travelling by car, you can make Luhanka a stop along this named route, rather than limiting your journey to a single destination.

In Tammijärvi, in the municipality of Luhanka, you’ll find Peltolan Mäkitupalaismuseo, a nationally significant cultural heritage site. It comprises 19 log buildings and around 3,000 objects. It is considered the world’s only authentic Mäkitupalais settlement with buildings preserved in their original locations. This distinctive site offers another cultural highlight alongside the churches and historic cemetery area.

Other activities in the municipality round out the options: there is a disc golf course with six baskets between Luhanka School and Tammijärvi. A free orienteering course with seven checkpoints, open to everyone, also runs through the forest between the school and the lake. Near the school, there is a lit ski trail about 1 km long. A village sauna and a barbecue hut are also available to rent on the shore of Tammijärvi. When choosing a holiday rental, you can therefore decide whether you would rather combine your stay with churches and culture, time by the water, or cycling and other activities.

Discover more destinations

You can also explore these places as destinations in their own right: Karstula, Vaajakoski, Kinnula, Viitasaari, Äänekoski, Kuhmoinen, Joutsa, Rutalahti.

For the regional travel overview: Central Finland.