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Karelian Village
One of the most famous of Ilomantsi's historical characters was Jaakko Parppei (1792-1885), a bard and a player of the kantele, a traditional Karelian stringed instrument. He is the namesake of Parppeinvaara hill (where he lived), which now features a re-created Karelian village. It is the oldest of the Karelian theme villages in Finland and one of the most interesting.
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Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church, dating from 1796, is almost as impressive. Following the Swedish conquest, a Lutheran congregation was established here in 1653 and the new religion soon overshadowed the eastern one. Colourful paintings from 1832, an achievement of Samuel Elmgren, are the highlight of this big wooden church.
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Orthodox Tsasouna
An Orthodox Tsasouna stands behind the Matelin museoaitta , a tiny museum commemorating female rune singer Mateli Kuivalatar, renowned in the 19th century for her renditions of the Kanteletar epic.
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Pyhän Elian Kirkko
Pyhän Elian Kirkko is the large and beautiful wooden Orthodox church, 1km west of the village centre, towards Ilomantsinjärvi. The kalmisto (graveyard) sign near the church will lead you to the old graveyard at the waterfront. It is a peaceful place, where old trees give shade to a few graves.
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Viinitorni
The local water tower was reborn in 1994 as a Viinitorni when some enterprising locals started a café at the top and specialized in serving their own wine. Strawberry, blackcurrant, whitecurrant, crowberry and blueberry are used as raw materials to produce the half-dozen varieties of wine sold here by the glass. The tower has a panoramic viewing deck, which is a great place to sit on a summer afternoon or evening.
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