Lappeenranta countryside
Lappeenranta countryside is a rural area, the westernmost part of South Karelia. It's made up of the municipalities of Lemi, Luumäki, Savitaipale and Taipalsaari.
The large countryside that belongs to Lappeenranta itself is handled in that article, including Nuijamaa, Joutseno and Ylämaa.
Get in
Taavetti, the main town in Luumäki does have a railway station, but trains do not stop there any longer.
By car
Luumäki is on highway 6, connecting Kouvola and Lappeenranta, in addition highway 26 comes in from Hamina. Savitaipale, in turn, is on the highway 13 between Mikkeli and Lappeenranta. The other two towns are off the main highways; Lemi on regional road 380, bulging out from highway 13 and Taipalsaari is on regional road 408 going from Lappeenranta over islands in Lake Saimaa to Savitaipale.
By bus
All municipal centres have bus services from Lappeenranta. In addition, Luumäki has bus connections from Kouvola, and Savitaipale from Mikkeli.
Get around
See and do
- 🌍 Kotkaniemi (Luumäki). Now a museum, this home of Per Evind Svinhufvud from 1908 until his death in 1944. Svinhufvud was the 3rd president of Finland, and chairman of the senate signing the declaration of independence in 1917.
- 🌍 Kärnäkoski Fortress (at Kärnäkoski, by the shore of Saimaa), ☏ +358 20-639-5929 (Riihisaari visitor centre), saimaa@metsa.fi. 24 hr daily. The Kärnäskoski fortress was built as part of the outermost defences of Saint Petersburg in 1791–1793. It was used also as a base for the Russian Saimaa fleet. The fortress was closed down in 1835, as all Finland had become part of the empire. The fortress is maintained as a nationally significant cultural historic landmark. There is a trail, a lean-to shelter, campfire site etc. Guided tours are available from the Partakoski village association. Free.
- Canoeing. The labyrinthine interconnected lakes make for good canoeing. On windy days, the routes have to be planned to cope, regardless of any nominal routes.
- 🌍 Kuolimon kierros. 24 hr daily. A canoeing route around Kuolimo off Savitaipale. There are lean-to shelters and trails to a few sights, such as the fortress at Kärnäkoski. The route optionally extends to Orrainpolku in the north and Suomenniemi to the north-west. The route has connections to Saimaa by 200–300 m portages at Kärnäkoski and Orraintaipale. Free.
- Hiking.
- 🌍 Orrainpolku, Partakoskentie 1520 (by roads 13 km to the south-east). 24 hr daily. 7-km trail with two lean-to shelters, by a pond and by the shore, respectively. The 40-m ascent to Luotolahdenvuori, with nice views, is steep. There is also a biking route around the area. Maintained by the municipality. Free.
Eat
- 🌍 Ravintola Jehu, Toukkalantie 1 (Lemi), ☏ +358 44 762 2124.
- 🌍 Ravintola Ostola, Riihitie 1 (Luumäki). Pizza, kebab, salads, steaks.
Sleep
Lodging
- 🌍 Olkkolan Hovi, Olkkolantie 2 (Savitaipale), ☏ + 358 50 5555 862, info@olkkolanhovi.fi. Hotel and restaurant.