Discover Kaavi: Culture, History and Nature

Local history, winter sports and water are concrete starting points for a stay in Kaavi. The village centre is home to historic sites, the harbour and ski trails; other cultural and natural destinations can be found in the municipality. If you are looking for a hotel in Kaavi, you can consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay.

Cultural history in the village centre

The Eloaitta local history museum in the village centre of Kaavi offers insights into the lives of people in Kaavi in the past. It is housed in a granary completed in 1845 to supplement the local communal grain stores. The museum and the building thus represent two sides of local history: people’s everyday lives and the historical storage of grain.

Between the heroes’ cemetery and this granary lies the site of Kaavi’s first churches. A memorial stone erected in 1953 commemorates the first church (1671–1749), the second church (1749–1816) and the cemetery dating from 1650.

The Täyssinä Peace Treaty boundary stone is a 16th-century archaeological monument located 1.24 km west of Kaavi Church. It is signposted as a visitor attraction. Three crowns, the year 1595 and a corresponding Russian symbol are engraved on the stone; a commemorative plaque stands beside it. At Kaavi School, the Sotaveteraanien perinneaula exhibition presents war memorabilia from 1939 to 1945 collected by Kaavi veterans.

Shoreline, harbour and ski trails

The village-centre beach is on the shore of Lake Kaavinjärvi, at the lake’s northern end. Kaavi Harbour has a guest berth, a slipway, a water connection, two gated piers and onshore boat storage spaces. Toilets are available during events. In the village centre, there are boat berths and onshore storage spaces on Kuikkatie; more storage spaces are located on Puustellinpolku.

The Peltolatu trail in the village centre is about 1.6 km long and can be used for classic or freestyle skiing. There is also a well-maintained 3 km trail for both skiing styles, as well as a 5 km illuminated trail and fitness route. The details differ in both length and the features listed: classic and freestyle skiing are specified for the Peltolatu and the 3 km trail, while the 5 km route is described as illuminated and suitable for fitness activities. Grooming of the Peltolatu may vary by season; grooming of the 3 km and 5 km trails is not guaranteed throughout the season.

Other cultural and natural destinations in the municipality of Kaavi

The Juutila Foundry Museum is in Vehkalahti, in the premises of the old Juutila foundry. The museum is open by appointment. Copper has been traditionally cast at the Juutila farm since 1881.

Telkkämäki Farm preserves traditional slash-and-burn farming and is still cultivated using inherited methods; clouds of smoke from slash-and-burn fires still rise there in summer. The farm is in the Telkkämäki Nature Reserve. The farm area and nature reserve can be visited year-round. At summer cultural events and traditional demonstrations, visitors can, among other things, sow turnips and rye, thresh rye in the threshing barn and harvest turnips. Information boards along the Rietulan kierto nature trail explain the traces of slash-and-burn farming in the nature and landscape of Telkkämäki.

The approximately 50 km-long protected Vaikkojoki waterway begins at Lake Vaikkojärvi in Juuka and flows into the Kaavi area. The river and its surroundings offer opportunities for canoeing and fishing; conditions and regulations may vary. The nature tourism area is about 30 km from Kaavi village centre and covers several thousand hectares of varied landscape along the river and within its sphere of influence. There are opportunities for hiking and cycling; trail conditions may vary.

Discover more destinations: Syvänniemi, Sonkajärvi, Varkaus, Säviä, Rautavaara, Rautalampi, Hiltulanlahti, Vehmersalmi.

For the broader travel overview: North Savo.