Kaavi: Culture, Water and Nature

Kaavi brings together traces of its history, insights into traditional ways of life and opportunities to get outdoors. In the church village, a local heritage museum and a memorial site tell of earlier times; elsewhere in the municipality, visitors will find a historic farm, a river area and cross-country skiing options. Which of these aspects interests you most can help determine where you look for a holiday apartment and which trips you focus on.

History in Kaavi Church Village

The Eloaitta local heritage museum offers insights into the lives of people in Kaavi in earlier times. It is housed in a granary completed in the 1840s to supplement the local communal grain stores. The building itself is therefore part of the history the museum presents.

Between the heroes’ cemetery and the granary is the site of Kaavi’s first churches. A memorial stone erected in 1953 commemorates the first church, which stood there from 1671 to 1749, and the second church, which stood there from 1749 to 1816. The memorial stone also records the cemetery dating from 1650. Anyone interested in the history of the area will find several historical periods brought together at this memorial site.

Another historical landmark is the 16th-century Täyssinä Peace Treaty boundary stone. It lies 1.24 km west of Kaavi Church and is signposted as a place of interest. Three crowns, the year 1595 and a corresponding Russian symbol are engraved on the stone; a memorial plaque stands beside it. The Sotaveteraanien perinneaula exhibition at Kaavi School also displays wartime memorabilia collected by Kaavi veterans, dating from 1939 to 1945.

Traditions and Nature in the Municipality

In Vehkalahti, the Juutila Foundry Museum is housed in the premises of the old Juutila foundry. Copper has been traditionally cast at the Juutila farm since 1881. The museum is open by appointment, so a visit needs to be planned differently from an outing that is freely accessible. At Telkkämäki Farm, traditional slash-and-burn farming takes centre stage. The farm preserves this way of life, is worked using traditional methods and is located in the Telkkämäki Nature Reserve. Smoke from slash-and-burn fires still rises there in summer. During summer cultural events and traditional demonstrations, visitors can take part in activities such as sowing turnips and rye, threshing rye in the barn and harvesting turnips. The farm grounds and nature reserve are open to visitors year-round. Information boards along the Rietulan kierto nature trail explain traces of slash-and-burn farming in Telkkämäki’s nature and landscape.

Those who want to combine water and activity can explore the protected Vaikkojoki waterway in the municipality. The waterway, about 50 km long, starts at Lake Vaikkojärvi in Juuka and flows into the Kaavi area. The river and its surroundings offer opportunities for canoeing and fishing. The Vaikkojoki area also offers hiking and cycling, and its nature tourism area—with several thousand hectares of varied scenery along the river and within its sphere of influence—is about 30 km from Kaavi Church Village.

Cross-Country Skiing and Time by the Lake

The church village has several cross-country skiing options: Peltolatu is about 1.6 km long and can be used for both classic and freestyle skiing. A groomed 3 km trail is also suitable for both styles. There is also a 5 km floodlit trail and fitness track. The different trail lengths and lighting are useful points of reference when planning your winter days around the type of route you prefer.

The church village beach is at the northern end of Lake Kaavinjärvi. Kaavi Harbour has a guest berth, a boat launch, a water connection, two piers with gates and onshore mooring spaces; toilets are available during events. In the church village, there are additional boat berths and onshore storage spaces on Kuikkatie, with further storage spaces on Puustellinpolku. Whether you would rather spend your time by the water or on cultural and nature excursions, these different themes offer a concrete starting point for considering a holiday apartment in Kaavi.

More places to discover: Juankoski, Suonenjoki, Tervo, Varkaus, Maaninka, Varpaisjärvi, Nilsiä and Rautalampi.

Return to the regional travel overview: North Savo.