Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sun-Fri mid-Jun-mid-Aug)
re-creates where one of Finland's foremost independence-era po-
ets was born in 1878. It's a lovely lakeside spot, with a cafe plus photos and memorabilia.
Bus 4 from Pohjolankatu in Kajaani runs to Paltaniemi hourly on weekdays only.
WORTH A TRIP
SOTKAMO
The Sotkamo area, 30km to 40km east of Kajaani, offers a typically beautiful Finnish
land- and lakescape that's great fun to explore year-round, with plenty of family-friendly
outdoor activities on offer. It's known as a winter-sports centre, and there are ski runs as
Vuokatinhovintie 1, Vuokatti;adult/child €15/7.50; 9am-6pm Jun-early Oct), with 1.3km of snow
to practise on when it's melted outside. Sotkamo is also famous forpesäpallo,the super-
tactical Finnish version of baseball: the successful local team plays in the stadium in the
centre of Sotkamo town, next to the attractive lake beach. There's plenty of accommoda-
tion both here and around the
ski resort
(
www.vuokatti.fi
;Veikontie 5, Vuokatti;lift pass per day/
week €38/163; Dec-mid-Apr) at Vuokatti, 9km west, ranging from no-frills guesthouses to
enormous spa resorts. Make sure you check out Sotkamo's enormous 19th-century
tance.
Kuhmo
08 / Pop 9270
Surrounded by wilderness, Kuhmo makes a natural base for hiking and wildlife-watching.
Vast taiga forests run from here right across Siberia and harbour 'respect' animals like
wolves, bears and lynx. Kuhmo is also the unofficial capital of Vienan Karjala, the Kareli-
an heartland now in Russia, explored by artists in the movement that was crucial to the de-
velopment of Finnish national identity. Most of their expeditions set off from Kuhmo, as
did one of Elias Lönnrot's, when he headed into 'Songland' to record the verses of bards
that he later wove into the
Kalevala
epic. There's a fine
Kalevala
resource centre in town.
This likeable little town also has a great chamber music festival in July.
