Lapinlahti between art and nature

Lapinlahti offers various reasons to explore the town: in the centre, Taidekatu connects art with history, buildings and culture; at Lapinlahti Special Arboretum, the focus is on exotic trees, undergrowth and wildlife. The Eemil Art Museum and Lastu’s activities add exhibitions and art activities to these experiences. When looking for a holiday apartment in Lapinlahti, you can consider whether you would like to experience art, nature or a mix of both during your holiday.

Art in the town centre and at the museum

The Eemil Art Museum’s collections are based on sculptures and plaster and clay models by the renowned Finnish sculptor Eemil Halonen (1875–1950). Alongside an exhibition from the collection, the museum presents temporary exhibitions of contemporary Finnish art. This brings different artistic perspectives together: the collection showcases Halonen’s sculptural works and models, while the temporary exhibitions focus on contemporary art from Finland. If you enjoy discovering art on holiday, the museum offers a distinct focus alongside works in public spaces.

Taidekatu is a unique urban walking route through the centre of Lapinlahti. It features around twenty works of art, including works by Eemil Halonen, Arttu Halonen, Olli Halonen, Eeva Ryynänen, Kaarlo Haltia, Stefan Lindfors, Kaarina Kaikkonen and Olavi Lanu. The information boards explain not only the art, but also Lapinlahti’s history, buildings and culture. The town walk is free and accessible. The route thus connects artworks with local themes, offering a different focus from a visit centred on exhibitions.

Art activities and nature experiences

Lastu runs free, open art activities throughout the year, as well as paid workshops, holiday camps and courses. Its diverse arts and cultural activities are aimed at people of all ages, especially in Pohjois-Savo; Lastu also operates in other parts of Finland. In Lapinlahti, near Highway 5, Lastu is an inspiring place for a family outing. The different types of activities give families the option of choosing between open art activities and courses or workshops.

At Lapinlahti Special Arboretum, a winding path just under one kilometre long passes through an area with various exotic tree species and information boards. The arboretum is a small retreat with many birds and squirrels, as well as a rich variety of ground plants and undergrowth. A shelter gives visitors the chance to relax by a campfire. The arboretum is also a rewarding destination for families with children. The short path and information about the trees give this nature visit a different character from an art walk through the town centre.

Trails in the wider surrounding region

Those wishing to include longer signposted trails in their travel plans can visit the Älänne area in the wider surrounding region. It spans the municipal boundary between Lapinlahti and Rautavaara. There are three signposted trails there, two of which are loop routes. The 6.2 km Huuhkajankierros starts and ends at the Vongankoski rest area. The trail lengths offer a concrete comparison: the winding path of just under one kilometre at the arboretum is much shorter than the Huuhkajankierros in the Älänne area.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can take these different travel experiences into account: Taidekatu and the art museum offer art and local history, the arboretum offers a nature walk, and Älänne offers longer signposted trails in the wider surrounding region. This lets you choose what to experience in Lapinlahti based on what suits your holiday, without combining the different trails and art venues into a single itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Alapitkä, Korpijärvi, Nilsiä, Syvärinpää, Syvänniemi, Maaninka, Tuusniemi, Kaavi.

For the main travel overview: North Savo.