Discover Suomussalmi

When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between places in the centre of Suomussalmi, destinations within the municipality and the wider surrounding area. This will help you match local history, nature activities and cultural attractions to the focus of your planned trip.

Church Art and Early History in Ämmänsaari

Ämmänsaari Church is in the centre of Suomussalmi and was consecrated in 1967. Its distinctive features include a 14-stop organ, built by Tuomi and Co. Organ Builders in 1968. The church was designed by Suunnittelu Oy Niemelä. The altarpiece came later: in 1979, it was painted by Irja Juntunen, an artist born in Suomussalmi. The different dates also make the church a place where the history of architecture and art can be traced through specific works.

The prehistoric exhibition at Jalonniemitalo in Ämmänsaari offers a different historical perspective. It displays original finds from Suomussalmi, including jewellery, moulds, stone axes and chisels. There are also slate and flint points, quartz scrapers, Iron Age tools and finds from the cremation burial at Peranka. The exhibition thus ranges from jewellery to tools and finds associated with a burial.

Jätkänpuisto beach is also just a few steps from the centre. Ämmänpäre, an environmental artwork made of steel and designed by Aleksi Jaakkola, is also located at Jätkänpuisto. Here, art and the beach are connected to a specific place in the centre, while other cultural attractions relate to the municipality more broadly.

Culture and History in the Municipality

Soiva Metsä is a collection of large instruments set up in the forest on the Kaunisniemi ridge. This destination within the municipality combines a nature trail with a cultural attraction. The nature trail and art installation are the joint focus here, while the church and exhibition in Ämmänsaari offer different themes.

The 18-kilometre Raatteentie Museum Road is associated with Suomussalmi's military history. You can explore it independently using brochures or as part of a guided tour with a knowledgeable guide. Raatteen Vartiomuseo shows what life at a border guard station was like before the Second World War and how the events of the Winter War at Raatteentie affected everyday life at the station. The museum has been restored to its 1939 condition. In addition to the Winter War Museum, the Raatteen Port museum area includes nature trails and the large Winter War Monument.

For help finding your way around the municipality, Visit Suomussalmi's tourist office offers advice as well as free maps and brochures. It assists groups with programme planning and arranges knowledgeable guides and Kianta cruises to Turjanlinna. These services are a useful point of contact if you are looking for information about several destinations within the municipality.

Nature and Activity Destinations in Hossa

Hossa National Park lies mostly in the northern part of the municipality of Suomussalmi. Parts of the park are also within the city of Kuusamo and the municipality of Taivalkoski in Northern Ostrobothnia. The national park was established to mark the centenary of Finland's independence under the Act on Hossa National Park (296/2017). The landscape is characterised mainly by pine-covered heathlands, ridges and clear waters.

In Hossa, you can hike and cycle along the trails. There are about 90 kilometres of routes and trails in total. In addition, there are four marked mountain bike routes, including one designated as an IMBA EPIC route. The trails and designated cycling routes offer different ways to explore the landscape; they should be understood as separate details about the trail network. The clear ponds, lakes and rivers invite you to paddle and fish.

Cultural traces also shape the experience of a trip to Hossa. A total of 61 rock art motifs can be seen at Värikallio, including figures of elk and people, bear paws and lizard-like patterns. The underwater landscape can also be viewed along the Melodestrecke route. Hossa thus combines nature experiences with archaeological motifs and a special opportunity to explore the underwater world.

Hiljainen Kansa in the Wider Surrounding Area

In the wider region, Hiljainen Kansa has stood in the Käpylä field beside the Viitostie road since 1994. The installation consists of about 1,000 figures with peat heads and is around 30 kilometres from the town centre. It can be seen all year round, including in winter. However, the car park is not cleared regularly in winter. If you are planning a visit during the cold season, check the parking situation in advance. The Niittykahvila café next to the installation is open in summer.

Next, compare the location of a specific hotel offer with the places you plan to visit during your trip.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Jormua, Ristijärvi, Sotkamo, Kajaani, Hyrynsalmi, Hossa, Paltamo, Puolanka.

For the main travel overview: Kainuu.