South Karelia

Region · 🇫🇮 Finland

Population 126,107

Area 6,833 km²

Time zone Europe/Helsinki

Official website ekarjala.fi

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Featured Lists

Public domain

South Karelia's Essential Treasures

South Karelia is defined by the expansive Saimaa lake system and a strategic military history. This list includes the 18th-century Kärnäkoski and Taavetti bastions, alongside the Salpa Line’s WWII defensive bunkers. Cultural highlights center on the Lappeenranta Fortress area, featuring the South Karelia Museum, the Cavalry Museum, and the 1794 wooden Lappee Mary Church. The region’s architectural heritage is further represented by the Art Nouveau Imatran Valtionhotelli, situated near the historic Imatrankoski rapids.

14 places

SeppVei / Public domain

Lakes and Nature Escapes

South Karelia's landscape is defined by the vast Lake Saimaa, Finland's largest lake system, and the dramatic Imatrankoski rapids. This selection features diverse aquatic environments, from the expansive Simpelejärvi to specialized sites like the Korpikeidas fishing pond and the Kirvesjärvi wetlands. Visitors can observe local wildlife from the Säänjärvi birdwatching tower or view the Saimaa archipelago from Luotolahdenvuori. The list also includes central green spaces like Lappeenranta’s historic Pusupuisto and the industrial heritage sites along the Vuoksi River.

12 places

Oakokko / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Historic Sites of Finland

South Karelia’s historical landscape is defined by its strategic border location, featuring 18th-century Russian bastion fortifications like Kärnäkoski and Taavetti. The region preserves its cultural heritage through specialized museums in Lappeenranta’s fortress district, including the Cavalry Museum housed in the city's oldest building. Visitors can explore the presidential estate of Kotkaniemi, traditional Karelian wooden architecture, and unique industrial history ranging from historic dairies to the gemstone collections of Ylämaa.

15 places

Hotarju / CC BY-SA 4.0

Finnish Churches of Significance

Explore the religious heritage of South Karelia through these five significant churches. This collection includes the 18th-century wooden Church of St. Mary and the Pokrova Church, which is the oldest Orthodox church in Finland, located within the Lappeenranta Fortress. Architectural styles range from C.L. Engel's Neoclassical design in Luumäki to Josef Stenbäck's granite National Romantic structure in Savitaipale. These sites reflect the region's historical position and the evolution of Finnish ecclesiastical architecture.

5 places