Huittinen: Experience museums, cycling routes and nature

You can include cultural history, cycling routes and nature trails in your travel plans for Huittinen. First decide whether you are interested in the museum and church, a particular road surface, or trails through forests and river landscapes. The specific differences between the options can help you set priorities for your stay.

Museum, church and cultural history

The Church of St. Catherine in Huittinen is a medieval stone church in the town centre. The Huittinen Museum is located right next to the church, in an area of cultural and historical value. At the museum, a diverse and extensive collection of objects presents local rural culture, while exhibitions offer further connections to the town: they focus on President Risto Ryti and sculptor Lauri Leppänen, both of whom were born in Huittinen. You can also see an accurate replica of an elk-head sculpture that is more than 8,000 years old.

The findspot of the Huittinen Elk Head can also be identified using specific landmarks: there is an information board from the Finnish Heritage Agency, and signs to the site can be seen from the village road. The Church of St. Catherine is a summer road church; tours can be arranged. Another way to get to know Huittinen is the Kulttuurikierros Huittinen: this augmented-reality walking tour features ten signs in the town-centre area. Culture-minded travellers can therefore choose between the museum and church and a tour with digital elements.

Choose cycling routes by distance and landscape

All the cycling routes featured on the Huittinen website pass through the town centre. The routes can be downloaded as GPX files and saved to a GPS device or an app. Route length, surface and scenery offer different ways to guide your choice.

The Palojoen cycling loop is 31 km long; about half of it is on gravel and the other half on asphalt. The Rekikosken cycling loop passes through forests and fields. It is listed as 17 km on paved roads and 10 km on gravel roads. The flat Lauhan cycling loop goes around Lauhansuo, along level fields and the banks of the Kokemäenjoki and Loimijoki rivers. The descriptions therefore differ in both surface and scenery. Route lengths and surfaces may change, so check the latest route information before setting out on a cycling trip.

Nature trails and seasonal outdoor activities

For summer running, Nordic walking and other fitness activities, the Kännölä recreation area offers circular routes ranging from 1.4 to 6.5 km. In winter, the area serves as a network of ski trails. A different natural environment can be explored on the more than one-kilometre nature trail in the Vanhankosken lehtoalue nature reserve, which passes through a deciduous forest. The information about Kännölä distinguishes activities by season, while the nature trail and its woodland offer a separate destination for an outing in nature.

Harjureitti is a 28 km network of ski trails and paths, of which about 14 km are lit. On the Huittinen side of the network, the Vampula outdoor hut is located on the ridge. This description refers to the section on the Huittinen side; the entire network is not within Huittinen. When planning, it is therefore worth considering both the activity and the specific section described.

Ripovuori and the river view

Ripovuori is a rock formation in the village of Sammu, rising about 34 metres above the nearby Kokemäenjoki River and standing 77 metres above sea level. The Leijonankita shelter is near the car park, and the river view opens up from there. On the steep southwestern slope, a nature reserve covering about two hectares protects semi-natural dry grassland vegetation. The rock, river view and distinctive vegetation give Ripovuori several different landscape features to consider when choosing your excursion destinations.

Discover more destinations: Kankaanpää, Ulvila, Siikainen, Aikkila, Harjavalta, Luvia, Pori, Eura.

For the main travel overview: Satakunta.