Sulkava: Rowing, lake landscapes and history

Sulkava is in South Savo and is surrounded by the waters of Lake Saimaa. The lakes shape the character of the area, where rowing culture, historic sites and nature experiences also come together. You can reach Sulkava by car, bus or boat via the Saimaa lakes. When choosing holiday accommodation in Sulkava, you can first consider which experiences will shape your trip: a visit during the rowing regatta, excursions into the countryside or the history of the area.

Rowing and tradition on Lake Saimaa

The Sulkavan Suursoudut takes place every year in July and has been held since 1968. The event brings together the traditional boatbuilding heritage of Savo and the sport of rowing. At the Sulkava rowing regatta, hundreds of wooden church boats compete over 60 kilometres on Lake Saimaa—in teams, pairs and solo. If you are interested in this defining event, you could consider travelling in July; the regatta offers a firsthand look at the local rowing tradition.

The importance of rowing is also evident in the Uitonrinne area: the rowing stadium, the Kulkemus boat centre and the harbour lie between the shore of Lake Saimaa and Mikkolantie. The Great Saimaa Cycling Route passes through Sulkava’s church village and continues via Partalansaari to Puumala. Sulkava can also be chosen as a starting point for the cycling route. This lets you focus your trip on rowing traditions or a cycling tour without needing to combine the two in a single outing.

Castle Hill, bell tower and milling history

Pisamalahti Castle Hill is one of Finland’s most valuable prehistoric hillforts. Remains of a defensive rampart dating from the 12th century survive at the summit. The hill rises about 55 metres above the water level of Enonvesi. It can be reached by land or water; from the car park, a footpath of about 500 metres leads to the steps up to the summit. A visit can therefore combine an interest in early fortifications with an appreciation of the landscape.

The bell tower is also a notable feature of the townscape: it is considered Sulkava’s oldest surviving building and is believed to have been built around 1770. Less than 10 kilometres from the centre of Sulkava is the Rauhaniemi Museum, which consists of an open-air museum and a lumberjack museum. Another historic destination is the Telataipale Canal in Sulkava, the northernmost of the four Suvorov canals.

A mill and water-powered sawmill operated in Lohikoski from 1814 to 1911. Together with other buildings and structures, the old mill building forms a well-preserved, nationally protected cultural heritage site. At Lohikoski Mill, you can see the grain-milling equipment and learn about its history by prior arrangement. This makes it possible to focus your visit on the site’s former use as a mill.

Forest trails, lakes and waterways

The Lohilahden Eräreitistö is a 35-kilometre hiking trail through the wilderness of Lohikoski. It passes through old forest conservation areas and past lake landscapes. Nearby, Vilkaharju offers a different natural setting: this roughly four-kilometre-long esker ridge provides views of the gravel-ridge landscape and opportunities for hiking. There are two marked nature-trail sections, about 3.1 and 3.6 kilometres long. Vilkaharju is a nature reserve; making fires, pitching tents and other forms of camping are prohibited there.

If you would like to experience the waterways by canoe, the Oravareitti is nearby. Along the route, 21 information boards are visible from a canoe, and the route passes through a variety of lakes, rivers and rapids. Water conditions are best in May and June. Another opportunity for nature watching is the Iitlahti wetland on Lake Saimaa: it covers more than 20 hectares and consists of deep and shallow waters, open and sheltered areas, and small islands. A road leads to the birdwatching platform; signs point the way from Sulkavantie 435.

If you would like to discover more places, you can find Putikko, Kumpuranta, Piojärvi, Vuoriniemi, Punkaharju, Ihamaniemi, Lötjölä and Hiukkajoki here.

For the broader travel overview: Savonlinna.