Simo: Cultural Landscapes, Bogs and the Simojoki

In Simo, striking cultural landscapes, bogs and village stories meet experiences along the Simojoki River. The municipality combines architectural history with nature, which can be explored in many different ways: in historic buildings, on trails through the landscape or fishing by the river.

Churches, Villages and the Museum Road

The Simon Church in Simoniemi was completed in 1846 to a design by Ernst Bernhard Lohrmann. The towerless, rectangular nave church is 28.5 metres long and 15.5 metres wide, and was built in the Late Imperial style. Simon’s bell tower offers an older glimpse into the area’s architectural history: Heikki Väänänen built it in 1773. Its wooden construction is considered an example of Ostrobothnian Renaissance; its Baroque-shaped roof planes and triangular wooden shingles define the building.

The Simonkylä Museum Road also tells the story of the area. A 2.9-kilometre section of the local road there has been designated a museum road since 1982. The cultural landscape along the road forms part of the nationally valued Simojoki Cultural Landscape Area. Simoniemi and Simonkylä also have an unusually well-preserved stock of buildings dating from before the Second World War for Lapland. Both villages are part of the nationally significant cultural landscape “Simojoen suun kulttuurimaisemat”; its landscape management area is Finland’s fourth nationally designated area of this kind.

Museums in the municipality also offer insights into local life. The Pahnila Museum displays original objects that tell of local history and culture, traditions and life in different eras. The Simoniemi Local Heritage Museum is housed in a former church granary and presents local stories and heritage. As visiting arrangements may vary, check opening hours before your visit.

Bog Landscapes and Coastal Change

At Simon maankohoumapuisto, ten information points trace the shifting coastline over the past 500 years. Ongoing land uplift is causing the sea to recede farther from the mainland. The park therefore draws attention not only to a landscape, but also to its long-term change.

Martimoaapa adds an expansive bog landscape to this natural setting. The 124-square-kilometre bog conservation area was established in 1982 to protect valuable bogs, plants and animals. The Martimoaapa-Lumiaapa-Penikat conservation area is among the most important bog landscape protection areas in northern Finland and is also particularly significant for endangered birds.

Trails, River and Fishing

The Hangassalmenaho side of Martimoaapa has a 2.5-kilometre circular trail and two birdwatching towers. Another nature trail starts at Nikkilänsuvanto in Simonkylä and runs partly along the bank of the Simojoki. The Wanha Simo route passes through the traditional Peräpohjola cultural landscape at the mouth of the Simojoki. The three options offer different experiences: the circular trail and towers are by the bog landscape, the nature trail follows the riverbank in places, and Wanha Simo explores the cultural landscape at the river mouth.

The Simojoki also offers various fishing opportunities, with rapids and still-water areas suitable for fishing. On the lower Simojoki, traditional fishing methods include bank fishing with artificial lures and fishing from a rowboat. About 90 percent of the waters within the municipality are part of the “2581 Simojoki, Simo” fishing permit area. Check the applicable rules and where to buy fishing permits before fishing.

Local Traditions and Choosing a Holiday Apartment

A distinctive culinary tradition is the lamprey, a local speciality of Simo. Visitors can sample it at the Nahkiaismarkkinat, held annually in mid-September; the exact event dates may vary. If this festival is important to your trip, check the dates in advance.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Simo, consider which experiences matter most to you: architectural and village history, bog landscapes, the river and fishing, or the autumn tradition of lamprey. This way, a range of themes can help guide your stay without reducing the different nature and cultural experiences to a single excursion destination.

Discover more destinations: Kittilä, Posio, Äkäslompolo, Ranua, Luosto, Ylläsjärvi, Tervola, Ivalo.

For the main travel overview: Lapland.