History and culture

The activities of Korteniemi heritage day included the making of soap. Photo: Elina Nystedt
Hike to ancient fishing grounds or experience a day in a medieval castle. Make a pilgrimage to holy ground or serve as a maid on a traditional farm. Historical sites offer a wide range of experiences. Hikers can learn to recognise the traces left by indigenous Finnish people. Some sites can also be easily reached by car.

Develop a feel for the past by spending a night in an open wilderness hut that used to house gold prospectors, or by engaging in voluntary work on a historical site. On Koli, you can marvel at the same national landscapes that inspired the artists of the Golden Age of Finnish Art; or on Finland's oldest hiking route in the Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, you can share the experiences of hikers of past decades.

Maintained by Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland, historical sites reveal how Finland became what it is today. Historical sites are filled with stories about the heroic efforts of individual historical figures and the great turning points of Finland as a nation.

Visitors can search for a destination by selecting one or more historical themes on the Nationalparks.fi destination search form and adding the area they wish to visit.