Michele is a city in Finland. Sights of Mikkeli, our impressions. Main Cathedral of Mikkeli

Where to stay: Skiers and snowboarders should immediately stay in Himos or neighboring Jäms, and if you are unlucky, then look for accommodation in Jyväskylä, but you will have to spend almost an hour on a transfer to the resort. Among the hotels in Imatra there are decent offers with spas. A stop in Mikkeli or Rauhe is suitable for have a relaxing holiday. In Varkaus you can choose a nice cottage right in the forest and enjoy the proximity of nature. Savonlinna is ready to offer not only a provincial-rural flair, but also full-fledged hotels. Well, it’s worth staying in Lappeeranta for the entire holiday - there will be no problems with finding activities, as well as with a place to live.
What to see: Rauha allows you to combine lazy, contemplative relaxation with a whole bunch of activities. If you get bored in the village, you can go to neighboring Imatra or Lappeenranta - the second largest shopping center in Finland. Neighborhood Mikkeli ideal for fishing. Don’t forget to study the local rock art; they say it is about 4 thousand years old. Savonlinna is sometimes called the “Finnish Venice” - we wander along its bridges and cobbled streets, ride on ferries, walk along the Punkaharju ridge and admire the local fortress. Varkaus is also surrounded by water on all sides. There are plenty of walking paths and a simply charming atmosphere. Jyväskylä is the real “Finnish Athens”. There are a lot of educational institutions, museums and natural attractions here. Well, Himos is one of the most popular ski resorts in the country, no comments needed.
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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 large tourist center, in which valuable attractions are concentrated.

Cathedral

The town of Mikkeli has 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 travel by 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

Located on a hill in the center of Mikkeli observation tower Naisvuori is 40 meters high. 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 very compact city; it will take you no more than 2 hours to get around it entirely. Despite its apparent insignificance, the first mention of it dates back to 1270, when there was a Novgorod churchyard here. Mikkeli received the status of a city from the Russian Emperor Nicholas I in 1838, then the city was called St. Michel in the then Russian fashion, almost St. Petersburg.

During the Second World War, the city was the main headquarters of the Finnish army, so the city was heavily bombed and now it is mainly built up with modern buildings. The main attractions are the military museums; we did not visit them.

The town of Mikkeli was only 20 km away and we visited it on our last day. The weather turned out to be extremely cold, it was only +8 degrees and a strong wind was blowing.

We left the car in the underground parking of a huge shopping complex“Stella”, parking is based on the principle of drive in, take a ticket indicating the time of entry, pay when leaving. Parking costs 1 euro per hour.

On one side of the Stella shopping complex there is a square with a monument to Marshal Mannerheim. He is considered a national hero of Finland and any town where the famous marshal has ever visited has a museum. memorable places, well, it’s natural to erect a monument to the national hero on the main square of the city.

Monument to Marshal Mannerheim

In Mikkeli, two places associated with Mannerheim are the Museum of the Main Headquarters, where Marshal Mannerheim’s office and headquarters are exhibited ground forces. On train station In Mikkeli there is a saloon car that Mannerheim used from 1939 to 1946.

On Mannerheim Square there is a city market, the assortment is the same as at the market in - berries, flowers, fish, products of local artisans. And there was a huge line for the bus; it would probably take 3 buses to accommodate all these people. So they also have queues.

Kirkkopuisto Church Park

This small park on the other side of the Stella shopping complex has a very long history. On this site, back in 1754-1806, there was a church and the Sivolahti church cemetery. After more than a quarter of a millennium, the park was reconstructed and reopened. The park is very small, I would call it a small square.

For some reason, the Finns love to depict naked men, so this archer is also naked. Maybe this is caused by their tradition of visiting saunas together?

Kirkkopuisto Church Park

To host national singing and musical events, an indoor stage was built in the park in the fall of 1896 under the direction of architect John Lybeck.

Kirkkopuisto Church Park

Observation tower "Naisvuori"

To see all the surroundings of the city, you can visit the Naisvuori observation tower. The tower itself stands on a natural hill, there is a park around it, flowers are planted, there is a fountain, in short, everything is very beautiful. From the tower you can see the entire city and the surrounding forests and lakes.

Looking at the Naisvuori tower

Another sculpture of a naked man.

View from the observation tower

View from the observation tower - the main Cathedral

There is a small cafe on the ground floor of the tower. They sell traditional waffles there at a price of 8 euros per serving. Waffles can be ordered with jam, whipped cream or ice cream, they put a lot of ice cream, we saw it at the next table. The waffles themselves, to our taste, are very reminiscent of pancakes, they are not crispy at all, but soft, like pancakes, we tried similar waffles in.

Waffles in the observation tower cafe

Main Cathedral of Mikkeli

home market Street and Mikkeli Cathedral

In the center of the city, as it should be, there is an impressively sized Lutheran Cathedral; there was a wedding going on there, so we didn’t go inside. The cathedral was built in 1896-1897 by the outstanding Finnish architect Josef Stenbeck. In total, he built 35 churches in Finland and Russia. There is a small park nearby.

Monument at the main Cathedral, again a naked horseman

Next to the cathedral, according to Finnish tradition, there is a small monument to those who fell in 1918; there was a revolution on Finnish soil, only in Finland the whites under the command of Marshal Mannerheim won.

Main Cathedral

And finally, a few photos of just houses in Mikkeli.

A piece of hot Thailand in a cold Finnish province

Wooden architecture

We didn’t particularly like Mikkeli and we don’t really want to return to this city, unlike

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 times civil war here was the headquarters of the White Army, and during the Second World War - 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 the museum wax figures 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 park extreme entertainment"Xon." 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 a nearby mall Carlson is worth a visit to the K-Supermarket, a popular tourist supermarket with a wide range 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 calm 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, as well as for married couples with small children.

Fairly reasonable prices, polite local residents, 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.

The unsurpassed natural beauty of the lakes that surround the city and the many cottages that dot its shores have attracted visitors from all over the world for many years. Mikkeli is located in the heart lake district, so there are myriads of entertainment for the many tourists who come here to relax and enjoy the local culture, and it is also special popular place among families. Mikkeli received the title " Cottage area of the Year" in 2006, since the endless shores of lakes provide opportunities for recreation in country houses, from which you can easily reach the city center by boat or car.

The city presents various cultural aspects and is home to the Mikkeli Music Festival - annual holiday classical music. Historically a military garrison, Mikkeli was the center of military operations under Mannerheim's command during the Winter War and the Karelian Campaign in the 1940s. Accordingly, some of the best military museums are located here. Among them: the Infantry Museum, which mainly covers Finnish history since independence, in particular the important role of the infantry during this period; The Headquarters Museum, which uses modern technology to demonstrate the military operations of the Headquarters and the central events of the Second World War. The Museum's property has been restored to its original pre-war condition. Also visit Lokki Signal Center and Naisvuori Observation Post, which is possible with a single ticket for all four museums.

Anyone interested in this region should visit the Suur-Savo Museum, as here you will find more than 8,000 exhibits related to the history of Mikkeli and its surroundings. Art lovers can spend time exploring the Salmela Art Center in the beautifully preserved village around Mäntyharju Church. Exhibitions take place in the old parish church hall, dating back to the 1850s, as well as in the old rectory, post office and pharmacy. The exhibitions are connected by picturesque gardens decorated with sculptures. All buildings have been restored in accordance with UNESCO's efforts to preserve their unique original atmosphere.

Among other famous attractions in the region you can see the monument to General Mannerheim on Mikkeli Square; the Rapio mill in Juva; Marski's Café on market square, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the beginning of May until the end of September; It is also worth seeing the priest's house in Kenkävero, which is considered the largest and beautiful building of this type in Finland, also thanks to the stunning nature around. You can enjoy your stay in Mikkeli all year round, from beautifully restored buildings, numerous events and exhibitions, to boutiques with exclusive handicrafts and souvenirs for sale. Directly opposite the majestic cathedral you will find Art Museum Mikkeli, also known as the "Granite House". This building, built in 1912, was designed by Armas Rankka. It houses a permanent collection of works by Martti Airio, which includes paintings by Finnish artists from the 1870s to the 1980s, furniture, oriental rugs and small art objects. Most of the works are done in the style of post-impressionism and expressionism.

One of the most popular places among families in Finland is Visulahti, the largest in the country. water park entertainment. There are sections such as "Dinosauria", with numerous slides, water cannons, fountains and pools; Xonpuisto with electric micro-cars and motorcycles. Children and adults alike will be pleased with the choice of entertainment: bungee jumping and paintball, rodeo bulls and spaceball, giant swings and even the opportunity to take part in sumo wrestling! Visulahti also provides accommodation, camping and a first-class restaurant. The amusement park is open daily from June to August.

Anyone interested in European prehistory will be delighted by the rock art of Astuvansalmi, dating from 3800-2200 BC. These drawings were found on a steep cliff on the shore of Lake Yovesi, 16 km from Ristiina Church in the south of Mikkeli. Of the 90 examples of rock art in Finland, Astuvansalmi's drawings are rightfully considered the most extensive and diverse, not only within the country, but throughout Scandinavia. The space, 17m long and 5.5m high, features over 80 different scenes painted in ocher, including figures of people, boats and moose along with animal hand and paw prints. The site can be reached by boat or on foot along a 3 km long trail.

Visitors to Mikkeli can also visit seven beautiful manor houses, each offering something different. A little south of the city The elegant Annilan Kartano is located, which is also a golf club. 25 km away is the Anttolanhovi mansion and sanatorium, nestled on the shores of Lake Saimaa in the historic village of Antolla, famous for its barge construction. To the west of Mikkeli Airport you will find the Kekkola mansion, where you can enjoy lakeside saunas and fishing, playing tennis or horse riding. A little over a kilometer from the city center is Kenkävero, the largest clergy house in Finland with its own restaurant, art gallery with exhibitions all year round, a folklore center and the largest designer boutique in the country selling Finnish handicrafts, clothing, accessories and delicacies. Kuuhkulä (Kyyhkylä) is located in a city on the shore of Lake Saimaa, has own hotel and a spa. Here you can take one of the historical tours or a daily cruise around picturesque places, play tennis or mini golf. 7 km from Mikkeli in a beautiful place is the Tertti mansion with a cafe, restaurant and souvenir shop.

There are also two wineries near Mikkeli; Ollinmäen Viinitila produces delicious Finnish berry and fruit wines, cider and liqueurs, and is located just 18 km from the city. The Tyry winery is located further - 60 km from Mikkeli - and produces Finnish berry wines, liqueurs, wine distillates and mustard moonshine.

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