Mikkeli Finland. Sights of Mikkeli, our impressions. Parks and natural sites

This region is famous for having a large number of country houses, where city residents love to spend their summer holidays. Houses, as a rule, are located in picturesque places, on the shores of lakes or on islands. Among the people renting these cottages there are many Russian citizens.

Mikkeli is the administrative center of the province of Etelä-Savo (Etelä-Savo, Southern Savonia). The city has a population of approximately 64.5 thousand people. The city is located at a distance of approximately 85 kilometers north of the city Lappeenranta.

Distance from Mikkeli to some cities: – 230 kilometers, Turku – 340 kilometers, – 300 kilometers.

The center of the city of Mikkeli can be considered the Mikkelin tori square. Near the square there are pedestrian streets, shopping centers Stella and Akseli and several cafes and restaurants. Various events are held on the square, which are attended by both local residents, and tourists. The square is located approximately 200 meters from the train and bus stations. The area is limited by the streets Hallituskatu, Maaherrankatu, Raatihuoneenkatu Porrassalmenkatu.

What attracts tourists to Mikkeli

The unique nature of the lake region of Finland is the main feature that attracts tourists here. There are more than two thousand lakes in the region, some of which are parts of Lake Saimaa. There are about thirty thousand cottages in the region, which are used by their owners or rented out.

Most tourists come to the region in the summer. More than half of the tourists coming here are residents of Finnish cities. As a rule, they rent a country house on the shore of a lake to spend one or two weeks of their summer vacation.

Russians made up the largest part foreign tourists in this region until recently. Among the foreigners coming to Mikkeli there are also many citizens of Germany, Estonia, Sweden and. Not so many residents of more distant countries (Japan, China, etc.) come.

Foreigners are attracted to the Finnish lake region by the same things as locals. This is an opportunity to spend a vacation away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in big cities. In others European countries There are few places left with such quiet, peaceful nature. Moreover, in summer it is not as hot here as in popular European and Asian resorts. In summer you can go fishing, swimming, hiking and boat trips. Boat cruises on Lake Saimaa are also popular.

The Jurassic Rock Festival is one of the city's most famous annual events. The festival takes place on the second weekend of August at Pursialankatu 6, 50100 Mikkeli.

Attractions and places to visit

General Staff Museum

During civil war 1918 and during the Second World War, the headquarters of the Finnish army was located in Mikkeli. In 1974, a museum was opened in the city, which was dedicated to Marshal Mannerheim. The museum later also featured exhibitions dedicated to the history of recent wars and army headquarters.
Address: Päämajankuja 1-3, 50100 Mikkeli.

Observation deck

The observation deck is located on the water tower, on Naisvuori hill. The observation deck offers views of the city and the lake. The observation deck was opened in 1912. There is a cafe nearby. The tower is located approximately 400 meters north of the central square.

Sacristy in Savilahti

The Savilahden kivisakasti sacristy is the oldest building in the province of Etelä-Savo. The building is located approximately in the middle of Porrassalmenkatu street, at a distance of approximately 700 meters north of the central square of the city. The sacristy was built in the 15th or 16th century. It was part of a wooden church. The church was built in 1320 and dismantled in 1769 (the sacristy has been preserved).
Address: Porrassalmenkatu 32 A, Mikkeli.

Cathedral

Cathedral(Mikkelin tuomiokirkko) was built in 1896-1897. The maximum height of the cathedral is 64 meters. This is one of the most famous buildings in the city. The cathedral is located near the central square.

Visulahti Waterpark

The amusement park includes: children's park adventures of “Dinosauria”, playground for children “Hyperdino”, museum wax figures, a park extreme entertainment XON, minigolf, tennis, volleyball, beach soccer. The amusement park is located approximately 4 kilometers northeast of the city center (by highway 5).
Address: Visulahdentie 1, 50180 Mikkeli, Finland.

Ski center

Ski Tornimäki is the closest ski center to Mikkeli. Center winter species Sports Ski Tornimäki is located approximately 10 kilometers from the center of Mikkeli. Here you can ride alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing or just spending time in nature.
Address: Metsä-Sairilantie, 4, Mikkeli.

Accommodation

There are plenty of places in and around Mikkeli where you can rent a room, apartment or cottage. Below is information about some places for tourists to stay.

Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna

The Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna is located near the central square of Mikkeli. The train station is located approximately 600 meters from the hotel. The hotel is part of the Sokos Hotels hotel chain.

Address: Porrassalmenkatu 9, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland.

Book a room at a hotel in Mikkeli.

Scandic City Mikkeli

The Scandic hotel is located in the center of Mikkeli, next to Mikkelintori Square. Before railway station can be reached on foot in a few minutes from the hotel. Shops and cafes are located near the hotel.
Address: Mikonkatu 9, 50100 Mikkeli, Finland.

Anttolanhovi

Hotel Anttolanhovi is located on the shores of Lake Saimaa, near the village of Anttola. The hotel is located approximately 25 kilometers southeast of the city of Mikkeli (on road 62).
The hotel has meeting facilities, two restaurants, 19 cottages, 54 hotel rooms and 7 apartments. The recreation center also has saunas, swimming pools, and a gym. Tourists have the opportunity to take boat trips on the lake in the summer.
Address: Anttolanhovi, Hovintie 224, 52100 Anttola, Finland.

Visulahti

On the territory of the Visulahti amusement park there are several cottages that are available for rent. The cottages are located next to the shore of Lake Saimaa, approximately 4 kilometers from the center of Mikkeli. You can book a room or cottage online.
Address: Visulahdentie 1, 50180 Mikkeli, Finland.

Lakeistenranta Camping

Camping Lakeistenranta is located in picturesque place, not far from the shore of Lake Saimaa, near the village of Anttola. The distance from the city of Mikkeli is approximately 27 kilometers. In addition to places for setting up tents and caravans, the campsite has small cottages. The campsite has everything you need for a comfortable stay (toilets, showers and a kitchen, cafe). There is a sandy beach nearby.
Address: Pitkalahdentie 215, Anttola, Finland.

Cottages

In the lake region of Finland, a large number of country houses of different sizes and different levels of comfort are available for rent. Such houses are usually located on the shore of a lake and have everything necessary for a comfortable stay. City dwellers love to spend part of their summer vacation in such houses.

Rent a house in the Etelä-Savo region you can use one of the international booking services ().

How to get there

Mikkeli can be reached by car, bus or train. Mikkeli Transport Center (train and bus stations, Mikkelin matkakeskus) is located near the city center.

InterCity and Pendolino trains travel from Helsinki to Mikkeli several times a day. Travel time is approximately 2.5 hours.

Mikkeli has regular bus service with the cities of Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Savonlinna.

By car from Helsinki to Mikkeli you can travel on highways E75 and then 5.
From St. Petersburg: drive to and then along highway 13.

Mikkeli Airport is located approximately 3 kilometers from the city center. Regular flights There are currently no flights to this airport.

The city of Mikkeli is recognized as one of the oldest cities in Finland, which is located on the shores of Lake Saimaa. The patron saint of the city is the Archangel Michael. It was in honor of its own patron that the city of Mikkeli acquired its name. The local population received city rights only in 1838 by decree of Tsar Nicholas, and the first settlements in this territory were recorded in the 12th century. On this moment The city of Mikkeli is considered a major tourist center, where valuable attractions are concentrated.

Cathedral

In the city of Mikkeli there is a beautiful Cathedral, designed in the neo-Gothic style by the famous architect Joseph Steinbeck. The cathedral building is distinguished by red brick decoration and a tiled roof. This attraction was built in 1896 and can accommodate about 1,200 visitors within its walls. In the 20th century, a high bell tower was added to the cathedral, and a magnificent organ was purchased for services. In the eastern part of the Cathedral there is a large altar on which the scene of the crucifixion of Christ is depicted. At the moment, the Cathedral is open to guests and residents of the city.

Suur-Savo Museum

This cultural and historical museum in the city of Mikkeli has about 8,000 exhibitions that reveal the multifaceted history, features of life and cultural traditions region. The Suur-Savo Museum is constantly updated with new exhibits and systematically organizes interesting thematic exhibitions for guests and local residents of the city.

Mannerheim saloon car

The famous saloon car was built in 1930 and was used for the trips of the famous marshal. This attraction includes a salon, five bedrooms, a kitchen and a toilet. The commander-in-chief made more than a hundred trips in this carriage. Today, the lounge car is open to visitors only on Mannerheim’s birthday – June 4th.

Naisvuori observation tower

In the center of Mikkeli, on a hill, is the 40-meter-high Naisvuori observation tower. This attraction is located on highest point cities. Local residents call the hill “Women’s Mountain”, since during the Russian-Finnish War, women watched the battles from the hill. Naisvuori Tower is decorated with white stone in the style of the 30s of the 20th century, and also has a working observation deck. With the help of optical technology you can see all the sights of the city. A fun children's festival is held on the hill in early June, which is accompanied by songs, theater performances and dances.

Mikkeli Art Museum

In the central part of the city there is an Art Museum, built according to the design of Armas Rankka. Most of the exhibitions in the museum belong to famous post-impressionists. In addition to paintings, famous sculptures, small objects of art, antique furniture and oriental carpets are exhibited within the walls of this attraction.

Lokki Communications Center

In the caves of the city of Naisvuori there is the most unique attraction of the Second World War - the Lokki communications center, which was responsible for telephone communications and communication lines of the Main Army Headquarters. The center's staff included about 130 people. There was also an observation center, a German communications center and recreation facilities. Today the museum displays telephones, intercom stations, weapons, radio equipment and equipment of Finnish army soldiers.

Museum-Estate Kenkavero

On the shore of a picturesque lake there is a museum-estate of a parish priest, which was built back in the 15th century. For a long period of time, this estate was the center of spiritual life for local residents. Today, within the walls of this attraction are thematic exhibitions of local crafts and art. At the estate there is a garden in which more than 500 species of flowering plants grow.

Country parish church

In the western part of Mikkeli is the Rural Parish Church, which is a large wooden building with a capacity of about 2000 people. This city landmark is recognized as the third largest church in Finland. The building was built in 1817 in accordance with all religious features Finland. The church has preserved its original façade, the altar depicting the crucifixion of Christ, and the bells cast in 1752.

Infantry Museum

In 1982, the Infantry Museum was opened in Mikkeli on the territory of the old barracks, which houses a valuable collection of personal belongings of infantrymen, information about the history and development of infantry units of the army from the beginning of the 18th century to the present day. The museum's exhibitions are located in two buildings. In addition, the museum displays photographs of soldiers who were awarded medals, as well as military equipment.

Mannerheim Main Headquarters Museum

In 2001 it opened its doors to visitors famous Museum Mannerheim's main stake. Within the walls of the city attraction are exhibits that reveal the main events of the war years, the features of the activities of the Main Headquarters, as well as the history of the development of the city.

Mikkeli is a small but quite cozy Finnish town, which is located on the shore large lake Saima. It is the center of the province of Southern Savonia and is located 320 km from St. Petersburg. The name was given in honor of its patron - St. Michael. If we talk about historical roots, it was founded by decree of the Russian Tsar Nicholas I and this happened back in 1838, after Finland became part of Russia. During the Civil War, the headquarters of the White Army was located here, and during World War II - the main headquarters of the Finnish armed forces, commanded by Field Marshal Karl Mannerheim.

Despite frequent bombings and due to the absence of high-rise buildings, the city was able to be quickly restored and many attractions and historical sites have survived to this day. It must be said that this region attracts many fishing enthusiasts, active species sports and various water activities. Connoisseurs of a quiet family life will find a lot of interesting things for themselves. cultural recreation. The convenient location of the city of Mikkeli greatly simplifies the task for those who want to get here from Russia and then go to other regions of Finland.

Residents of St. Petersburg can use a bus or minibus; there are numerous such flights travel companies. But most often tourists from the northwestern region prefer to come to Mikkeli for own car. Residents of other Russian cities can fly to the airport in Helsinki-Vantaa. This is a suburb of the Finnish capital, and then take advantage by high speed train or by bus. You can also travel from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Helsinki by train and then transfer to public transport.

Photo: Tommi Nummelin / Wikimedia Commons

The Lake District is real paradise for avid fishermen. You will have an excellent opportunity to catch trout, pike perch, pike, large perch and other types of fish. And for those who prefer to purchase it ready-made, local shops offer fresh, salted and smoked fish, as well as various delicacies at quite attractive prices. No less popular among tourists and river walks. From May to September you can rent a boat or take advantage of local cruise programs and enjoy the amazing beauty of Lake Saimaa.

6 kilometers from Mikkeli is ski resort"Ski Tornimäki". On the territory of this entertainment complex there are 4 trails with different levels of difficulty, three ski lifts, and for those who are hungry there is a cafe. It must be said that the city of Mikkeli has already fallen in love with many Russian tourists and it is chosen as a pleasant place to relax with the whole family. They are attracted by numerous comfortable cottages and hotels that offer good service and entertainment. Therefore, both children and adults will always find something to their liking here.


Photo: booking.com

You can have fun on a variety of attractions and slides, visit a wax museum or go to a vintage car exhibition. There is also a pedal boat rental here, and you can also play tennis and mini golf. If you are traveling with children, we recommend visiting the Xon extreme amusement park. There, not only children, but also adults will have an excellent opportunity to raise their adrenaline levels high. Guests are offered many different options for recreation, for example, you can go karting, ATVs, snowmobiles, play paintball, practice Japanese wrestling, and also test your strength on a variety of extreme attractions.

Monuments and museums

While walking around the city, you should definitely visit the central square. Note that this is a great place for hiking, where you can see the monument to Marshal Mannerheim, the local Cathedral, visit the indoor market and buy food, a variety of delicacies and souvenirs. The Naisvuori observation tower immediately attracts attention; it is an unusual and popular architectural object among guests. Having gone upstairs by elevator, you can sit at a cafe table at the very top and enjoy beautiful views and landscapes.


Photo: Hietaparta / pixabay.com

It is definitely worth mentioning the Cathedral, which was built in late XIX century, the church looks like a real castle. The spacious building can accommodate up to 1200 people at a time. Next to the cathedral there is a small pond where, according to legend, you need to throw a coin and make a wish, and it will definitely come true. For those who want to get to know Finnish art better, it is worth visiting the Salamela center. Please note that it is only open in summer time year - from June to August and offers to see different exhibitions, attend lectures or poetry meetings.


Photo: MKFI/Wikimedia Commons

At the Mikkeli Art Museum, tourists can see the works of famous Finnish artists, as well as visit thematic exhibitions. If you are interested in military topics, then go to the main headquarters museum, where various exhibits from the reign of the famous Field Marshal Mannerheim are collected. And the infantry museum, which is located in the building of an old barracks, is entirely dedicated to military affairs. There is another interesting place called the Loki communications center. It is located in the site of a former military headquarters, carved right into the rock. The center functioned throughout the war and today uniforms, various military equipment, and weapons exhibits are stored here.

Parks and natural sites

"Urpola" is a place where everything is dedicated to the plants and animals living along the Urpolanjoki River. Here you can see stuffed animals, get acquainted with fish through aquarium glass, and also see interesting movies O local nature. Nearby there is a very unusual object - a glacial basin, which reaches a depth of almost 8 meters and is more than 9,000 years old. Worth mentioning is “Anjan puisto” - a forest park with exotic trees, winding walking paths, dense greenery and rich flora and fauna. In the forest park you can feed the local inhabitants, take pictures with them, or just take a walk.

Shopping

Large and popular shopping centers can be found in the central square Hallitustori. They are called "Akseli", "Stella" and "Carlson". A variety of products from many Finnish and well-known European brands are presented here. It is worth looking into the Marimekko store and it must be said that this is a popular brand in Finland, offering a variety of quality products for women.

In the nearby Carlson shopping center, it is worth visiting the K-Supermarket, a popular tourist supermarket with a large assortment of products. Note that tourists from Russia have a special weakness for German. I must say that this is one of the most inexpensive grocery stores, which is very popular.


Photo: Zid Moisey / Wikimedia Commons

For those who love good food, we can recommend the Ravintola Talli restaurant - here guests are offered dishes made from environmentally friendly products. It is worth trying the salmon with cream sauce, as well as their signature pies. If you love pizza, we recommend going to Restaurant Angela Kebab-Pizzeria. This is a pizzeria with a wide range of pizzas and at very affordable prices. The Amarillo restaurant is located in the central square.

They serve Texan and Mexican cuisine for those who want to try something new. Looking for interesting places for a relaxing or active rest You can choose the city of Mikkeli. This Finnish center welcomes guests all year round and offers all the opportunities for quality time, both for young and active people and for married couples with small children.

Quite affordable prices, polite locals, comfortable hotels and cottages, as well as convenient transport accessibility, all this helps Russians and residents of other countries make a choice in favor of Mikkeli. In our next article we will tell you, which is located in the eastern part of Finland and is popular with many Russian tourists.

City Mikkeli, named after the patron saint of those places, St. Michael - just right would be better suited For family vacation with kids. Here and not far from the border, many cottages with good fishing on Saimaa, convenient shopping (several shopping centers Stella, Aleksi and Carlson are compactly located in the city center), there are spas, museums and amusement parks for children.

It will be interesting to visit the museum of the main headquarters of Mannerheim himself, whose headquarters was in Mikkeli during the Second World War. Mannerheim’s personal carriage, which was used from 1939 to 1946 for trips on wartime business, is also in eternal rest.

The Loki Museum of Radio Operators, hidden in the rock, will tell (and show) about the underground work of radio operators; the Mikkeli Art Museum will introduce you to modern art.

Children and adults will enjoy visiting the Rantakeidas water park and the Visulahti water amusement park with water slides and swimming pools, dinosaurs ready to really stroll through the tall grass of Mikkeli, and sports climbing frames for kids in the Hyper Dino complex. For extreme sports enthusiasts, there is more serious entertainment - Rally School.

Ancient manors, among which Tertti and Kenkävero, the largest priest's house in Finland, stand out.

A real winery, where you will be received with cordiality and told about which berries can be used to make homemade wine and will arrange a real tasting with Finnish cordiality and friendliness.

The pristine beauty of nature, unusual museums, designer cottages and amusement parks - this is what you will come to Mikkeli for more than once.

Photos of the city of Mikkeli:

Paradise overlooking Lake Saimaa, a place where many wished to spend more than one day of their lives Art&Design Villas Anttolanhovi in ​​the town of Anttola next to Mikkeli. Actually Anttolanhovi presents

The city of Mikkeli is the center of the Etela-Savo region and the administrative center of the province of Ita-Suomi ( eastern Finland). The city is located 120 kilometers northwest of the city of Lappeenranta and about three hundred kilometers from St. Petersburg.

The city is the location of the provincial administration and command eastern district defense forces, representatives of government bodies of Finland. Multifaceted economic activity covers the areas of food industry, forestry, woodworking, metalworking, electronics and of course tourism business. The city is home to the largest plywood factory in Europe, the largest northern Europe gravure printing house Quebecor World Helprint, and one of the most popular family holiday centers in Finland. More than 25,000 located in the region receive a large number of holidaymakers from Finland and other countries every year. The university located in the city helps the region remain competitive in the field of “high technology”.

Statistical data.

Year of foundation - 1838
Total area (with adjacent territories) - 1,622.1 km2
Of these, water surface - 303.6 km2 (18.7%)
Number of residents - 46.5 thousand people.
Women - 52%
Over 65 years old - 15.5%
Population density - 35.4 people/km2
Provision of jobs - 103.2%
Unemployed - 13% (according to 2003 data)

Information from the history of the city.

The first people appeared in this region 6,000 years ago. It is assumed that these were hunters and fur buyers. Around the 14th century, there were already permanent settlements on the territory of present-day Mikkeli. The first mention of a settlement called Mikkeli dates back to the 16th century, and in the 17th century it began to play a prominent role in the region. The future city received its name in honor of St. Michael. In 1809, the territory of Finland passed to the Russian Empire. From now on it began new period in the history of Mikkeli. In 1838, by order of Emperor Nicholas I, the city of Mikkeli was founded, at that time the city had 63 inhabitants. In 1842 the city received its own coat of arms. As the city developed, people moved to Mikkeli government agencies, church services, entrepreneurs. In 1843, the provincial administration moved from Heinola to Mikkeli. In 1846, the first printing house and the first store were opened in Mikkeli, a provincial prison was built, and the city continued to develop. After Finland gained independence, the development of the city continued. The city's population had to endure battles during the civil war and bombing during the war with the Soviet Union. In 1960, the city's population exceeded 20,000 people. Mikkeli is trying to take advantage of its close proximity to Russia. Developing trade and interaction with Russian enterprises, Mikkeli Higher Technical School successfully uses student exchange programs with universities in St. Petersburg.

Attractions.

The town of Mikkeli, small by Russian standards, is rich in attractions. Attracting tourists (both domestic, Finnish and foreign) is one of the main goals of any settlement Finland. Among the attractions we can mention observation tower"Naisvuori" Art Museum, Mannerheim Headquarters Museum, Infantry Museum and Tourist centre"Visulahti". More information about attractions and museums on the corresponding page of the site.

 

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