In the heart of Finland, in the nature of Finland’s southernmost wilderness, there are unique travel destinations and the mystique of times gone by.
In northern Central Finland, there is the Central Finland tourist area, which consists of seven municipalities, including Kannokoski, Karstula, Kinnula, Kivijärvi, Kyyjärvi, Pihtipudas and Viitasaari.
The raven forests and misty swamps of Central Finland are rooted in the traditions of storytelling and healing spells. It is said that the song of the bog remains in the hearts of those who visit it.
Located just under three hours’ drive from Tampere and a couple of hours’ drive from three different airports, Finland’s southernmost wilderness in the middle of Finland, offers a treasure trove of tales and nature experiences to those seeking peace.
-It is easy for people to come to Central Finland. This has always been a meeting place for people. In the melting pot of the southern, northern and eastern tribes, everyone is warmly welcomed, says Jenni Leppilahti, project manager of the Central Finland Nature Tourism Growth Programme project.
Nature empowers
In the Central Finland region, nature and its magic are the main characters.
Two national parks, Salamajärvi and Pyhä-Häkki, with their boulder caves and vast bogs, are a memorable experience for anyone.
In the fairy-tale, arctic raven forests, the traveler encounters deafening peace and silence. Rocky landscapes, intoxicatingly fragrant bogs and easy, diverse trails offer unforgettable wilderness experiences even for first-time visitors.
The area’s birdlife is abundant, and on the “Peuran polku” -trail it is possible to see wild deer, which are rare elsewhere in Finland.
According to Leppilahti, the best thing about being in nature is the lack of haste and the fact that you don’t have to do anything.
-You can use your time to live in the moment, be present and listen to yourself. A sensual hike with a guide, for example, offers a good opportunity for this. In nature, you have the opportunity to meet your fellow human beings in a completely different, genuine and profound way than in noisy cafes, says Leppilahti.
In the heart of Finland, time has stopped in a soothing way. In Pyhä-Häkki National Park, in the sturdy pine forests of Mastomäki, the average age of the trees is 250 years.
The park’s most famous and most cherished old tree is the now-decayed Old Big Tree. It began growing in 1518. The traditions of healing in the area date back to those times and even further.
“In the heart of Finland, far from everything, there have been seers and healers for ages who helped people with their natural abilities,” says Jasmine Välikangas, project specialist for the Heart of Finland Nature Tourism Growth Program.
The mystique of bygone times in wellness services
The healing tradition is still strong in Central Finland. The new generation of folk healers and spiritual coaches have the same deep connection to nature as their predecessors, although they use their own modern techniques.
Sauna, bog and chanting are still strongly associated with them.
-In the Central Finland region, it is possible to receive wellness services based on traditions and the mysticism of bygone times: ceremonial baths, beauty treatments, sauna, herbal massage, sound and energy therapies, angel hypnosis treatments, nature yoga, meditation, astrology and various guided relaxation exercises. People continue to come here to heal, even after long distances, says Välikangas.
According to Välikangas, each of us longs to be seen, heard and understood in order to feel good.
-In the middle of nature, it happens as if by itself, here you can get closer to yourself. The experience is strengthened by the fact that we are in the power area of the bogs. The task of the bogs has been to purify the waters, and we humans are 70 percent water. Perhaps healers purify the internal waters of people so that creativity and joy can flow freely again, Välikangas reflects.
The bog, in its sensuality and dignity, is strongly linked to the Finnish soul landscape. In its natural state, the bog is the most original of Finnish landscapes.
As late as the beginning of the 20th century, up to a third of our land area was bog. The bog has been a burial place and a hiding place, a gateway between this world and the afterlife. The treasures of the bog – lingonberries and cranberries – are today sought-after vitamin bombs and the most festive of our native berries.
The morning mist that spreads over the bog has been depicted in many works of art. Many authors have written about the smell of the bog, the unique species of plants and animals, and the mystical beauty and wisdom that provide answers of the open, rolling land.
The song of the bogs of the heart of Finland invites the traveler, according to Välikangas, to delve deep into Finnishness. The secret of the swamps and saunas has been cherished in the heart of Finland and its stories have been collected to be retold under the leadership of Aino Erkkilä, who knows the history of the region.
The deep and new-creating swamp sings a story of the heart, water and light and miraculous power. The tradition of healers is carried on by, among others, the Nykälä witch, Löytölä’s daughter and Alma Peuranluoma.
- Read more in “Healer’s Sydänsuomi”
The stories’ and storytellers’ Sydänsuomi
If you are not familiar with witches and wizards, many people are at least familiar with the stories, the legend of Nättijussi, who was born in Karstula in 1890, and the Granny of Pihtipudas, who, as the saying goes, must always write all the news to make her understand.
Inspired by this, Pihtipudas has chosen a Granny of Pihtipudas every three years for over 30 years, and visitors have the opportunity to meet her.
Henrik Gabriel Porthan, who was born on Viitasaari in 1739 and is considered the father of Finnish history and the developer of Finnish language research and the library system, also reminds us of the strength of the storytelling tradition of Heartland Finland.
Porthan was the first Finn to collect folk poems and dialect words, and invented the names of birds, such as the starling and the fire-crested woodpecker, during his travels. Other words that Porthan introduced into the literary language include fairy, cottager and native Finnish.
Today’s Heartland Finnish storytellers include musicians Paula Vesala and Pete Parkkonen.
Stop and stay the night
Heartland Finland is made up of small municipalities, each with its own fun atmosphere and unique small entrepreneurs and businesses with their own stories.
Many have driven past Viitasaari, perhaps stopping there or in Pihtipudas to refuel. But how many can say they have stayed overnight in a Niliaitta or even know what a Niliaitta originally was?
There are bodies of water everywhere on the northern edge of Lake Finland, so according to Leppilahti, cottage accommodation in Sydänsuomi is a sure choice.
In addition to cottages and a lakeside cottage, travelers can choose to stay overnight in an atmospheric guesthouse, a glamorous and fully equipped glamping tent with a local food breakfast basket, or even a glass igloo to experience the beauty of a summer night.
-It’s worth stopping by. The local service and personalized destinations will certainly remain a memorable experience in your memories, Leppilahti smiles.
- Read more about the different accommodation options!
Interesting summer events coming up
Whether you stop by Sydänsuomi for a day or more, there are plenty of things to see and events throughout the summer. A little more special and definitely worth experiencing.
Leppilahti mentions the Helavalkea, which kicks off the summer season, the area’s several summer theaters, and Kivijärvi Jam 3.0, the internationally renowned Music Time event held in the heart of nature, as well as Carstunekruising, the Medieval Market, the Pihtipudas Spear Carnival, and Traktori-Jazz, to which those arriving by tractor have free admission.
The article is carried out as part of the Sydänsuomi Nature Tourism Growth Program, a project funded by the European Union and managed by the Regional Council of Central Finland. The project is administered by the Development Company Karstulanseutu Oy.
Read also Mysterious Sydänsuomi.