Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sun; )
Set in a leafy park close to the rapids, this stylish Arctic-white bar opens to an umbrella-
shaded terrace (heated in winter) and hosts live music on weekends.
Information
Tourist Office
TOURIST INFORMATION
Jun-mid-Aug, plus noon-4pm Sat mid-Jul-Aug, 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri mid-Aug-May)
Helpful and friendly; extended opening hours for the Imatra Big Band Festival.
Getting There & Around
The bus and train stations are 3km north of Imatrankoski in Mansikkala, linked by fre-
quent local buses (€3.30). Otherwise you'll need a
taxi
( 020-016-464)
.
Trains offer the speediest (and often cheapest) connections:
Helsinki
(€50.30, 2¾ hours, seven daily)
Joensuu
(€30.40, two hours, five daily)
Lappeenranta
(€8.60, 25 minutes, five daily)
NORTH KARELIA
Criss-crossed by dusty gravel roads, Finland's sparsely populated frontier has some of Fin-
land's best wildlife. Its strong Russian influence is evident in striking Orthodox churches:
North Karelia was fought over for centuries by Sweden and Russia, with fierce fighting
during the Winter and Continuation Wars. You'll often stumble across trenches, old battle-
grounds and memorials to the fallen inside the quiet forests.
Just beyond North Karelia,
Kuhmo
also has a Karelian heritage, though it's not strictly
part of this province.
