Discover Pyhäjärvi

Pyhäjärvi offers several starting points for planning a trip: cultural and historical sites and collections, as well as nature and water activities. Rillankivi recalls the history of border surveying; the Kotiseutumuseo Makasiini and Vaskikello offer different perspectives on local history and clocks. Fishing and canoeing are the main activities on the Pyhäjoki, while the Pyhäjärvi has boating routes and sightseeing cruises. Other options include Emolahti’s sandy beach and opportunities for berry and mushroom picking. You can tailor your choices to whether culture, water or nature should play a bigger part in your stay.

Nature and border history

Rillankivi appears to have served as a boundary marker as early as the 15th century. Notches were carved into its surface during border surveys. The stone thus combines a historical function with visible traces of surveying. The area around Rillankivi is protected as a nature reserve. There is a lean-to shelter, a campfire site and a toilet at the trailhead. Rillankivi is a distinct highlight for travellers who want to include both nature and local history in their plans.

Fishing, canoeing and boat trips

The recreational area along the upper reaches of the Pyhäjoki is about eight kilometres long. There are opportunities for spinning, trolling and fly fishing. Canoeing on the Pyhäjoki has become a tradition in Pyhäjärvi. Fishing and canoeing offer different ways to include the river in your travel plans.

There are boating routes with landing places on the Pyhäjärvi, and sightseeing cruises are also available. As operating details may change, it is worth checking the dates if you want to make a cruise a fixed part of your stay. This lets you distinguish between activities on the river and excursions on the Pyhäjärvi, without treating them as the same kind of outing.

Stories of clocks and a local history museum

Vaskikello has a clock collection that is unique in the world. There, you can hear stories about around 2,000 different clocks. The Kotiseutumuseo Makasiini focuses on something else: it is housed in a Crown grain storehouse completed in 1866, where the Pyhäjärvi-Seura association has operated a local history museum for just over 60 years.

About 1,200 farming-related objects from Pyhäjärvi have been catalogued, and some of them are displayed in an exhibition. The objects on view may change. In contrast, Vaskikello focuses on clocks and their stories, while the Makasiini showcases farming-related objects from Pyhäjärvi. This can help you choose if you want to explore one of these two aspects of local culture in particular.

Perinnepiha is suitable as a venue for celebrations and meetings, as well as for events such as theatre and dance performances. Reservations may be required. If you are planning an event there, take the possibility of needing a reservation into account.

Beach and other nature activities

Emolahti’s sandy beach is child-friendly, making it a practical option for families planning some time at the beach. Pyhäjärvi also has extensive areas for berry and mushroom picking, as well as hunting. If you don’t want to focus your stay solely on the beach or water, you can consider these nature activities as other options for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Yli-Valli, Strandby, Pyhäntä, Ruka, Kärkölä, Pudasjärvi, Kempele, Kärsämäki.

For the broader travel overview: North Ostrobothnia.