Luhanka: Churches, Cultural Heritage and Routes

When looking for hotels in Luhanka, it is worth considering the things that interest you during your trip: church and local history, arriving via Lake Päijänne, the beach, or cycling and winter routes. The following places and activities offer concrete points of reference for planning your stay.

Churches and History in Luhanka

Luhanka summer church, at Mämminiementie 6, was inaugurated on 1 October 1893, Michaelmas Day. It was designed by architect Josef Stenbäck, who used the plans for the church in Hankasalmi as a model. The altarpiece also has its own story: Selinda Danielsson painted “Jeesus seisoo ovella ja kolkuttaa” in 1906, and the painting was funded by Eva Sofia Jutila.

The church’s good acoustics earned Luhanka summer church a reputation as a concert venue. The building is unheated and has no electric lighting, so it is used only in summer. If you are interested in Finnish church architecture, this place brings together architectural history and a later artistic addition.

A different period of history awaits at the old church and cemetery area of Reeth. Reeth Church was built in 1766 and demolished in 1892. In 1956, the municipality of Luhanka erected a monument at its site. A rare fence made of log coffins and burial chambers has also been preserved there. There is a specific access requirement for visiting: the car must be parked more than 100 metres away; from there, a grassy path leads to the site. The history of Reeth Church can thus be explored at its former location, while Luhanka summer church has survived as a building inaugurated in 1893.

Harbour, Water Route and Beach

A water route leads to Luhanka via Lake Päijänne, allowing boats to reach the centre of the church village. The harbour at Hakulintie 6 has paid seasonal and guest berths for boats. There are also two free drinking-water points near the harbour. If you are planning your trip by water, the harbour and water route are useful points of reference.

The municipality maintains Mämminiemi swimming beach. The beach is sandy and has a pier and bathing steps. It offers another way to enjoy the water, apart from arriving by boat or using the harbour for orientation.

Getting Around by Road, Bike and Ski Trail

The route known as “Finland’s most beautiful scenic road” runs from Vääksy via Pulkkilanharju, Kalkkinen, Sysmä and Luhanka to Korpilahti. For travel planning, the route provides a clear guide through the places named; no specific travel time is implied.

A southern connecting route in Lakeland by Cycle also passes through Luhanka. The route network connects nature destinations, attractions and services in Central Finland, mainly via gravel and forest roads. The routes are considered very easy to ride overall and are rated 5 to 6 on a difficulty scale of 10. As route conditions may vary by season, check the specific route before setting off.

A lit ski trail about one kilometre long runs near Luhanka School in Tammijärvi. Winter maintenance is seasonal. The short ski trail and the cycling route suit different travel plans: one focuses on a winter activity, while the other connects destinations across the Central Finland route network.

More places in the municipality: Tammijärvi

Peltolan Mäkitupalaismuseo is located in Tammijärvi, in the municipality of Luhanka. This cultural heritage site comprises 19 log buildings and around 3,000 items. It is considered nationally significant and is described as the world’s only authentic Mäkitupalais settlement with buildings preserved in their original locations. A visit is therefore about not only the collection, but also the relationship between the buildings and their locations.

There is a six-basket disc golf course between Luhanka School and Tammijärvi. A free orienteering course with seven checkpoints also runs through the forest there and is open to everyone. A separate lean-to shelter has been set up at Papinmäentie in Lempää, Tammijärvi, offering views of the Latamäki wind farm and its turbines. Tammijärvi beach is accessible via a sandy road below and behind the school. This makes it possible to include cultural history, recreational activities and various waterside destinations in your travel plans around the municipality.

Discover more destinations: Lannevesi, Äänekoski, Viitasaari, Kuhmoinen, Pihtipudas, Saarijärvi, Juokslahti, Suolahti

For the wider travel overview: Central Finland.