Nurmes

Introducing Nurmes

Nurmes, at the northwestern tip of Lake Pielinen, has a picturesque situation, and, like Lieksa, makes an excellent base for winter activities such as dog-sledding, snowmobiling, ice-fishing and cross-country skiing tours, and canoeing and farmhouse tours in summer. It's a more pleasant town in its own right though, with a terraced Puu-Nurmes (Old Town) area of historical wooden buildings, rows of beautiful birch trees lining Kirkkokatu, and a delightful re-creation of a Karelian village. Nurmes was founded in 1876 by Tsar Alexander II of Russia and the Old Town still has the character approved of by the 19th-century Russian ruler.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009