Sulkava: Rowing, Lake Saimaa and History

Sulkava is located in South Savo, surrounded by the waters of Lake Saimaa. Rowing, routes through forest and lake landscapes, and historic sites offer different ways to shape your trip. When planning, it helps to consider the season: a major rowing event takes place in July, while water conditions on the Oravareitti are best in May and June.

Sulkava and the Tradition of Rowing

The Sulkavan Suursoudut has been held since 1968 and takes place every July in Sulkava. The event brings together the traditional boatbuilding heritage of Savo and the sport of rowing. At the Sulkava rowing regatta, hundreds of wooden church boats compete on Lake Saimaa over a distance of 60 kilometers, with crews, pairs, or solo rowers. This puts team competition and individual starts side by side within the same regatta.

Water also helps you find your way around the area. In the Uitonrinne area, between the shore of Lake Saimaa and Mikkolantie, you’ll find the rowing stadium, the Kulkemus boat center, and the harbor. Sulkava can be reached by car, bus, or boat via the Saimaa lakes.

Cycling and Hiking Trails

The Great Saimaa Cycling Route passes through Sulkava’s church village and continues via Partalansaari to Puumala. Sulkava can also be chosen as a starting point for the route. For hiking, the Lohilahden Eräreitistö offers a different scale: the trail is 35 kilometers long and passes through the wilderness of Lohikoski, old forest protection areas, and lake landscapes.

Vilkaharju, a nature reserve and an approximately four-kilometer-long esker, is close to Sulkava. Two marked nature trail sections, about 3.1 and 3.6 kilometers long, offer opportunities for hiking and taking in the esker landscape. Please observe the restrictions in place there: lighting fires, pitching tents, and other camping are prohibited.

Landscapes and Nearby Destinations

Pisamalahti hill fort can be reached by land or water. From the parking area, it’s about a 500-meter walk to the steps leading to the summit. Pisamalahti is one of Finland’s most valuable prehistoric hill forts; remains of a defensive rampart dating from the 12th century are preserved at the summit. The hill rises about 55 meters above the water level of Enonvesi.

The Iitlahti wetland on Lake Saimaa covers more than 20 hectares. Its landscape comprises deep and shallow water areas, open and sheltered spaces, and small islands. A road leads to the birdwatching platform; follow the signs from Sulkavantie 435. The Oravareitti passes through a variety of lakes, rivers, and rapids. From a canoe, you can see 21 information boards along the route. Water conditions are best in May and June.

History and Cultural Heritage

In the center of Sulkava stands the bell tower, considered the town’s oldest surviving building and thought to have been built around 1770. Another landmark is the Telataipale Canal in Sulkava, the northernmost of the four Suvorov canals.

A mill and water-powered sawmill operated in Lohikoski from 1814 to 1911. The old mill building, together with other buildings and structures, forms a well-preserved cultural heritage site protected nationwide. At Lohikoski Mill, you can view the grain-milling equipment and learn about its history by prior arrangement. Nearby is also the Rauhaniemi Museum, less than ten kilometers from the center of Sulkava. It consists of an open-air museum and a lumberjack museum.

For planning your dates, the annual Suursoudut in July and the best water conditions on the Oravareitti in May and June offer different points of reference. If you want to plan your stay around an event, July is the relevant month; if the route’s water conditions are your priority, plan for May or June.

Discover more destinations: Piojärvi, Kallislahti, Enonkoski, Savonranta, Putikko, Punkaharju, Kumpuranta, Kerimäki

For the overview of the wider region: Savonlinna.