Nurmes: Wooden House History, Karelian Culture and Waterside Routes

Wooden houses dating from several decades, Karelian architectural heritage and waterside routes give Nurmes a character of its own. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house, you can focus on culture, exhibitions and history, or explore the shoreline routes and landscapes around Lake Pielinen and Lake Nurmesjärvi. These different experiences offer concrete ways to decide which side of Nurmes you would like to discover during your stay.

Culture and History in Nurmes

Nurmes-talo is home to several places of interest: Galleria Tyko, the Kötsi Museum and Nurmes Main Library. Cinema Hannikainen is also located in the building. Admission to the exhibitions at Galleria Tyko is free. This means you can combine a visit there with a look at other facilities in the same building, without having to visit different locations for the various offerings.

Puu-Nurmes, the wooden-house district in the heart of Nurmes, has a distinctive historical character. It is protected and considered historically valuable; it is also one of Finland’s best-preserved wooden-house districts. Most of its buildings date from between the 1880s and the 1930s. If you are interested in traditional architecture and historic townscapes, Puu-Nurmes offers a focus of its own alongside the attractions at Nurmes-talo. The time span also makes clear that the district did not originate in a single year.

Karelian Culture and Special Experiences

Bomba House and the Karelian village embody Karelian architecture and culture. Bomba House has exhibitions, while the Valamo wine tasting features monastic berry wines. The architecture, exhibitions and wine tasting each offer a different focus. If you would like to centre your stay on culture, you can consider these offerings alongside Puu-Nurmes and the facilities at Nurmes-talo, rather than getting to know Nurmes through just one place to visit.

An annual event is also part of local life: the Vanha Kauppala Residents’ Association holds an open house day in August. If you are travelling in August, the open house day can offer an additional glimpse into Vanha Kauppala.

Explore the Waterfront and Surroundings

The Rantaraitti runs along the shores of Lake Pielinen and Lake Nurmesjärvi. It follows illuminated footpaths and a walking trail that is suitable for cycling in both summer and winter. Depending on your interests, you can explore the routes on foot or by bicycle; the cycling route is suitable in both seasons.

There are passenger piers in the town centre and on the shore by Bomba Spa. Keep these two locations in mind when finding your way around Nurmes. Nearby is Lipinlahti: Toivontorni is about 9 kilometres from the centre of Nurmes and offers a view of Lake Pielinen from a height of about 85 metres. Also in Lipinlahti, about 9 kilometres from the centre, the Kohtavaara nature and history trail passes information boards about the area’s history and nature. The viewpoint and information boards offer different ways to explore the surroundings.

The Hyvärilä Youth and Tourism Centre provides access to running routes. These routes complement the options along the Rantaraitti, which is also suitable for cycling.

Discover More Places

If you would like to explore more places, here are the other destinations: Mannervaara, Ahmovaara, Rääkkylä, Ketsu, Vanhahovi, Karhunmäki, Liperi and Kontiolahti.

For the main travel overview: North Karelia.