Sights in Kuopio
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Jätkänkämppä Smoke Sauna
There are different types of saunas, but the smoke sauna is the original and, some say, the best. This, the largest in the world (although few other countries have made an attempt on the record), is a memorable and sociable experience that draws both locals and visitors.
The lakeside Jätkänkämppä sauna is at a former loggers' camp near the Rauhalahti Tourist Centre. The 60-person, mixed sauna (record capacity is 103 people) is heated a full 24 hours in advance with a big wood fire, hence the name 'smoke sauna'. Guests are given towels to wear but bring a swimsuit for a dip in the lake. The technique is to sweat it out for a while, cool off in the lake, then repeat the pro…
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Kuopion Korttelimuseo
This block of old town houses forms another of Kuopio’s delightful museums. Several homes – all with period furniture and decor – are very detailed and thorough and the level of information (in English) is excellent. Apteekkimuseo in building 11 contains old pharmacy paraphernalia, while in another building it’s fascinating to compare photos of Kuopio from different decades. There’s also a cafe serving delicious rahkapiirakka (a local sweet pastry).
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Rauhalahti Tourist Centre
Rauhalahti Tourist Centre has grown around Rauhalahti Manor (Kartano Rauhalahti), an area converted into a year-round family park. The whole Rauhalahti area is full of amusements and activities for children and families including boating, cycling, tennis and minigolf in summer, skating, ice-fishing, snowmobile safaris, snowshoeing and a snow castle in winter. Take bus 7 from the town centre. There are also lake ferries from the passenger harbour in the town centre in summer.
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Kuopion Museo
The town museum in a castlelike art-nouveau mansion has wide scope. The top two floors are devoted to cultural history, with household objects, a boat builder’s workshop, coffee shop and a recreated wooden house among the attractions. But the real highlight is the natural history display, with a wide variety of beautifully presented Finnish wildlife, including a mammoth and an ostrich wearing snowboots. The ground floor is devoted to temporary exhibitions.
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Puijo Hill & Tower
In a country with few hills, Puijo Hill is the pride of Kuopio - the spectacular panoramic lake and forest views from the 75m Puijo Tower are said to represent 'the national ideal of Finnish scenery'. There's a revolving restaurant on the 12th floor, a café on the 13th and an open-air viewing deck at the very top.
Unfortunately there are no public buses to Puijo, but it's a nice walk through the trees, or a short drive or cab ride.
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Suomen Ortodoksinen Kirkkomuseo
A fascinating, well-presented display, the Orthodox Church Museum holds collections brought here from monasteries, churches and tsasounas in occupied Karelia. Today it’s the most notable collection of eastern Orthodox icons, textiles and religious objects outside Russia. The oldest artefacts date from the 10th century. There are summer exhibitions on particular aspects of Orthodox art or symbolism.
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Spruce Forests
Surrounding Puijo Hill is one of the best-preserved spruce forests in the region. It's a popular local spot for walks and picnicking. Also here is an all-season ski jump and chairlift. Even in summer you can often see ski jumpers in training.
Unfortunately there are no public buses to Puijo, but it's a nice walk through the trees, or a short drive or cab ride.
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VB Valokuvakeskus
Excellent summer exhibitions grace the Photographic Centre, devoted to Victor Barsokevitsch, one of the pioneers of Finnish photography. His studio is now a gallery, but there are enough old cameras and photos to call this a museum. In the garden you can enjoy a coffee in summer and check out the camera obscura.
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Kuopion Taidemuseo
The art museum features mostly modern art in temporary exhibitions, but also displays permanent works. Look out for paintings by the local artist Juho Rissanen (1873–1950), whose realistic portraits of Finnish working people were a contrast to the prevalent Romanticism of the time.
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Puijon Torni
The views from the top of the 75m Puijon Torni are very impressive; the vast perspectives of (yes, you guess correctly) lakes and forests represent a sort of idealised Finnish history. Atop the structure is a revolving restaurant, cafe and open-air viewing deck.
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Snellman Home Museum
This museum is a branch of the Kuopio Museum. JV Snellman, an important cultural figure during the National Romantic era of the 19th century, used to live in this old house from 1854 to 1849.
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