Mannervaara: Traces of a Divided Border

Mannervaara lies between the Runon ja Rajan tie and the Finnish state border. The village is one of the Pilkekylät on the eastern edge of Tuupovaara, along today's Korpiseläntie and Pirttijärventie. The area's history can be traced through specific landmarks and the site of a former shop.

Border history at the former shop

Beside the road, at the site of the former shop, there is a piece of iron rod set into a concrete block. The border markers of the former provinces of Viipuri and Kuopio were once attached to it. The border established by the Treaty of Nystad also ran through the same spot. Thus, two historical border references meet here: the former provincial markers and a border established by a peace treaty.

The former shop stood at a crossroads of four roads leading to Ilomantsi, Värtsilä, Luutalahti and Ruhovaara. These directions are part of Mannervaara's historical orientation. The so-called regional name Tynkä-Korpiselkä encompasses the villages of Hoilola, Saarivaara, Mannervaara, Ruhovaara and Saaroinen. When peace was concluded, they remained on the Finnish side, separated from the municipality of Korpiselkä and the province of Viipuri.

Church history in Hoilola

Hoilola is also one of the villages in the Tynkä-Korpiselkä area. After the wars, an Evangelical Lutheran church was built there in 1950 with donations from American Lutheran churches. An Orthodox place of prayer was also established in Hoilola to replace the churches of Korpiselkä, which had remained beyond the border. It was later consecrated as Pyhän Nikolaoksen kirkko. These two building histories tell of different religious traditions and of how border lines shaped village life.

Water and hiking trails in the Tuupovaara area

In the Tuupovaara area, the Jänisjoki water route offers a range of paddling experiences: calm lake sections for church-boat trips and challenging rapids for experienced paddlers. The contrast makes it easy to choose your focus—an outing on calmer waters or a more demanding challenge on the river.

Vekaruskoski is in the Tuupovaara area, along the Paimenpojan polku hiking trail. A signposted trail of about 37 kilometres runs near the state border through Hoilola and Öllölä to the Vekarus recreation area and on to the church village of Tuupovaara. Shepherd boy symbols and red markings indicate the route. The wider travel area therefore offers both water-based activities and a marked hiking trail.

Choose the right focus for your trip

When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to distinguish between Mannervaara and the wider Tuupovaara area: Mannervaara is associated with the history of the border village and its former crossroads; the water route is in the Tuupovaara area, and the marked trail leads to the church village of Tuupovaara. Consider whether you want to focus your stay mainly on Mannervaara's local history or on activities in the wider area. This decision gives your holiday-rental search a clear direction without combining different places or activities into a single destination.

Discover more destinations: Nurmes, Vuonislahti, Polvijärvi, Ilomantsi, Kontiolahti, Outokumpu, Vartiala, Ketsu.

To the overview of the wider travel area: North Karelia.