Guide winter 2022 / 2023

Small but big experiences

When was the last time you looked at the stars in the frosty night or sat quietly by an open fire? Or went tobogganing with your child? The best experiences have no price tag.

On KARINIEMENMÄKI near the Lake Vesijärvi passenger harbour, there are 12 sculptures by art professor Olavi Lanu. The grey colouring of the sculptures is reminiscent of natural stone. At the artist’s request, the works are allowed to gather moss naturally. The sculptures have been placed close to lit footpaths.

HOLLOLA’S MEDIEVAL CHURCH is an impressive medieval monumentmedieval monument in PäijätHäme. On the same trip, you should stop to eat at Restaurant Vanha Kunnantupa opposite the church.

LAHTI IS A CITY OF STATUES. Here you will find a statue of the skier Siiri Rantanen and football player Jari Litmanen, as well as Vapaudenpatsas (Statue of Liberty) and Hiihtäjäpatsas (Statue of the Skier). Almost all the statues are in or near the city centre.

In the ancient landscape area of HAUKKASELKÄ in Iitti, there are three Stone Age rock paintings. In the wintertime, you can go and admire the paintings on snowshoes, for example. It’s a good idea to pack a picnic lunch in your backpack.

The outdoor recreation area of KULLASVUORI in Padasjoki is home to two nearly 14-metre towers. The towers offer a wonderful view over Päijänne National Park.

HEINOLA’S FESTIVAL OF WINTER AND LIGHT brings light into the dark winter. Starting from the courtyard of the WPK talo in Heinola, a light art route runs down Kymenkartano street to Rantapuisto park and from there along a pedestrian bridge to Siltasaari Island. Entrance free of charge. Festival of Winter and Light: 23–26 February 2023.

There is plenty to do and see for all ages at LAUNE PERHEPUISTO family park. The family park includes a traffic park, a spider climbing frame and several slides of different sizes. The popular park is available free of charge and open all year round.

Built around the Sibelius Hall, the WOOD ARCHITECTURE PARK is a testament to the wood construction expertise in Lahti. The buildings and structures in the Wood Architecture Park include ProPuu, where you can also shop, a light art canopy by Kengo Kuma from Japan and Richard Leplastrier’s wooden spiral. www.propuu.fi