Konnevesi: Culture, Nature and Waterways

Konnevesi offers different ways to experience culture and nature: cultural attractions include an open-air museum and an arts and cultural venue in the town centre. The surrounding municipality also offers protected areas, forest trails and water activities. You can therefore plan your stay around local history, nature watching or time on the water.

Cultural History and Art

The Konnevesi Museum is an open-air museum dedicated to regional cultural heritage. Twelve traditional log buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries showcase the Savo building style. On the museum grounds, different aspects of life in the past are presented in their own settings: the smoke sauna building, originally constructed in the 18th century, offers a glimpse into traditional Finnish living conditions. The blacksmith’s workshop showcases metalworking techniques from rural Finland.

The museum’s windmill also has its own story: it was built in 1867, moved to the museum in 1958 and restored in 2020 as part of the “Myllyt Pyörimään” project. Visitors interested in historic buildings can learn about different architectural forms and uses here. The Lehmipolku AR trail adds five augmented reality stops to the museum visit. They explore the history of livestock farming and native Finnish breeds.

In the town centre, Galleria Käpy is a meeting place for art, culture and crafts. It offers exhibitions, events, workshops and courses, and the art exhibitions change regularly. The museum grounds are also the main venue for Women’s Week, a cultural and arts event featuring music, art and talks, held every year in July. Especially during the summer season, Galleria Käpy also serves as Konnevesi’s tourist information centre, providing information about local attractions, events and services.

Konnevesi Church is a grey granite church in the late Romantic style, designed by Ilmari Launis. It was completed in 1922 and consecrated at Pentecost in 1923. Please note that the church is open only during services and other church events.

Nature, Trails and Water

Established in 2014, Southern Konnevesi National Park spans the areas of Konnevesi and Rautalampi. From the port of Häyrylänranta, it can be reached by cruise boat, by paddling or in your own boat. Nearby, Häyrylänranta also offers a sandy beach with a diving tower, a caravan and camping site, and a range of services for boaters.

For nature watching in the municipality, there is the Mertajärvi–Pieni-Selkiäinen Natura 2000 protected area. The Pieni-Selkiäinen birdwatching tower is in the village of Särkisalo in Konnevesi. A nature trail leads through the protected area from the Pieni-Selkiäinen information point; wooden boardwalks along the edge lead to the observation tower. A blue-marked trail runs along the shore of Lake Pyhäjärvi for just under a kilometre to the birdwatching tower. Along the way, you can observe the lake scenery and birdlife. Lake Pyhäjärvi is protected under the Natura 2000 network and is surrounded by a broad wet meadow zone.

The Partiomaja Trail offers another option: the circular route runs through the forest along the Konnevesi rapids route and passes Taikinainen and Karinkoski on its way to Partiomaja. Short and multi-day paddling trips are possible in Southern Konnevesi National Park. Several paddling routes in the national park and its surroundings are maintained by the municipalities of Rautalampi and Konnevesi.

For travel by water, canals connect Lake Keitele and Lake Päijänne; these waterways provide access to Konnevesi from Lahti. From the north, Neituri Canal leads from Lake Keitele to Northern Konnevesi and on to Pielavesi. Fishing is also an option at several locations: At Siikakoski and Hannulankoski, you can fish safely and comfortably from a drift boat with guidance from a fishing guide. At Kellankoski, installed fishing platforms make casting easier.

More destination pages: Räisälä, Utsjoki, Muonio, Rautuskylä, Ylläsjärvi, Äkäslompolo, Ivalo, Kemijärvi.

For the broader travel overview: Lapland.