Putikko: Sawmill History on Utrasselkä

Putikko brings together the history of an old sawmill community and a location on the shore of Utrasselkä, which is part of Saimaa. This gives you two distinct focuses to consider when planning your trip: the historic buildings and the Pihlajaveden Polkasu Loop Route, which passes through the village. The railway station, sawmill and surrounding landscape make Putikko a destination where local history and a specific cycling route are equally part of the picture.

Sawmill Community on Utrasselkä

The old sawmill community of Putikko is of national significance. Its values include cultural-historical, historical and landscape-related aspects. Its location on the shore of Utrasselkä adds a connection to the lake landscape; the lake is part of Saimaa. The sawmill’s history is linked not only to the name of the village, but also to its surviving buildings and their construction. Visitors interested in historic village settings will therefore find several interconnected themes in Putikko, rather than just a single building.

Putikko Railway Station and Historic Buildings

Putikko railway station has architectural-historical, historical and landscape-related value. Its station building is characterised by Art Nouveau architecture and was built to designs for a Class V, Type C station on the Savonlinna–Elisenvaara line. The class and type details are part of the building’s history and place it within a specific design. The station yard retains original outbuildings and a rare public toilet. The station building also has a small park planted with deciduous trees. A local detailed plan protects both the station building and the goods shed. The historic ensemble thus includes outbuildings and the small park as well as the main building.

Office Building and Sawmill Construction

The office building of the Putikko sawmill and its outbuildings are part of the nationally valuable cultural landscape of Putikko’s old village districts. The sawmill complex spans several periods: it includes brick engine houses and a sawmill building with plank walls. Its appearance, building materials and construction methods preserve features of traditional sawmill construction. The contrast between the brick engine houses and the sawmill building with plank walls makes the different building forms within the complex particularly easy to understand.

Please note that access to the former steam sawmill is restricted. A two-frame saw still stands on the site, but sawmill operations have ended. The site is privately owned and not open to the public. Do not plan to visit it as a publicly accessible attraction.

Cycling the Pihlajaveden Polkasu

The Pihlajaveden Polkasu Loop Route passes through Putikko and Punkaharju, crossing a mix of rural and lake landscapes. Its cycling section is about 65 kilometres long. The route also includes a water crossing in the Saimaa waters. The loop can be cycled in either direction. The approximate distance gives an idea of the cycling section of the route. For travellers who want to include a cycling route alongside the sawmill and railway station history, Pihlajaveden Polkasu offers a separate point to consider when planning.

Planning Your Trip

For the Putikko Village Loop, you can park your car in the yard of the old railway station, which is also listed as the starting point for the loop. As this parking information may change, check it before setting out. Note the difference between the two route references: the parking option is for the Putikko Village Loop, while Pihlajaveden Polkasu is a loop route that passes through Putikko. This lets you consider the historic local attractions and cycling plans separately, without treating the two routes as the same.

Discover more destinations: Kumpuranta, Ihamaniemi, Punkaharju, Vuoriniemi, Lötjölä, Hiukkajoki, Oravi, Enonkoski.

View the main travel overview: Savonlinna.