Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
SKIING AT SYÖTE
Syöte, the southernmost fell in Finland, is a popular winter-sports escape from Oulu, with
covers discrete areas of old-growth spruce forest and is great for ski-trekking or hiking.
There's a visitors centre and plenty of accommodation, including a couple of good hotels
with great views, and rentals managed by
Pudasjärven Matkailu
( 08-823-400;
www.syote.net
;
Romekievarintie 1, Syöte; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri); you can book online. A bus from
Oulu to Syöte (€26.30, 2¼ hours) leaves once daily Monday to Friday. Another option is
changing in Pudasjärvi.
Kajaani
08 / Pop 38,010
Essentially a one-street town, Kajaani, capital of the Kainuu region, is nevertheless the
major settlement in these parts. Apart from its pretty riverside and church at nearby Paltan-
iemi, it's more stopover than destination.
Kajaani was a tar town; until the 19th century, the Kainuu region produced more than
anywhere in the world. Other claims to fame are that Elias Lönnrot, creator of the
Kal-
evala,
worked here for a period, using it as a base for his travels, and long-reigning presid-
ent Urho Kekkonen lived here as a student (at Kalliokatu 7).
Sights
In the pedestrian zone, the old
town hall
was designed by CL Engel. The wooden
church
is also worth a look.
Kajaanin Linna
CASTLE
Picturesquely set on a river island in the town centre, these ruins show all the signs of
damage by war, time and more-recent mischief. It's a fine spot to bask on the grass on a
sunny day, but there isn't much more to it than what you can see. Nearby there's a
tar-
