Kannusjärvi: Village History Between Lakes and Farms

Kannusjärvi is a village set among a chain of lakes, cultivated shores and historic farmsteads. The village roads wind around Little and Great Kannusjärvi, opening up views of the lakeshores and farms. Historic settlements were located around a chain of lakes running from north to south—Kannusjärvi, Pieni Kannusjärvi and Haukjärvi—and around the small rivers connecting them. Kannusjärvi is first mentioned in 1525 among the upland villages.

Windmill and Farm Museums

One of the village’s landmarks is its three-storey windmill. Hannu Tykä built it himself, completing it in 1993 based on the design of an old windmill. The year marks the completion of this structure, whose design draws on an earlier style of mill.

The farm museums also tell the story of agriculture. Tykän Riihimuseo is housed in a more than 120-year-old threshing barn preserved at its original site. The museum brings together old agricultural implements. The small Tykän Maitolavamuseo stands between Riihimuseo and the windmill. The grounds of Tykän maatila also include a small arboretum with more than 80 tree species, which forms part of the local landscape. Together, the sites offer a glimpse of historic implements, another small museum and a collection of different trees.

Memorial Sites and Local History

Pakokivi commemorates forest refugees who hid at this site. Under the leadership of Erik Tykä (1866–1948), they erected the memorial stone on 23 April 1918. The date 20 April 1918 is carved into the stone: the day the men fled there. The two dates mark different moments in the same events.

Another site linked to local history lies in a field on the Tykä farm: it is the crash site of a Soviet bomber that came down in the summer of 1941. The village’s history encompasses not only its older farms and museums, but also memories of events from the 20th century.

Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing and Food

For outdoor exercise, Kannusjärvi has a lit 2.7 km fitness and cross-country ski trail. If you would rather include a larger hiking area in your plans, Portimon polut offers a network of trails spanning more than 60 km in total. It runs through Ruissalo, Kannusjärvi, Kitula and Metsäkylä. The ski trail and hiking network offer different options for planning your day: a specific short route or a network that passes through several villages.

A distinctive culinary detail is part of the Aholafarm alpaca hike. The package includes a meal by the campfire, with Takaladon-Lihas grilled sausages and mustard, salad or a savoury pastry. It also includes coffee brewed in a pot, tea, juice and homemade sweet pastries. If you consider food as part of your outing, you can take this offering into account as one aspect of your travel plans.

Choosing Kannusjärvi as a Holiday Destination

When choosing a destination, you can consider which aspect appeals to you most: village history and lake scenery, hiking along the trail network, the lit ski trail or the culinary experience of the alpaca hike. If Kannusjärvi fits your travel plans, you can search specifically for a holiday apartment or holiday home in the village. The experiences described here offer concrete points of reference to help you decide whether Kannusjärvi suits the kind of vacation you have in mind.

More Destinations

You may also consider Virolahti, Mäntlahti, Pyhtää, Kouvola, Kuusankoski, Hamina, Verla and Jaala as other destinations for your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Kymenlaakso.