A relaxing holiday home experience in Southern Savonia
Nestled in the heart of the Finnish Lake District in south east Finland lies the historic and beautiful region of Southern Savonia. The area's main towns are Mikkeli and Savonlinna and nearby Lake Saimaa enjoys tremendous popularity with holidaymakers from Russia and Europe.
The cultural legacy of Southern Savonia
The region's main town, Mikkeli, was a hub of military activity during World War II and its city centre lies on the restful shores of Lake Saimaa. Mikkeli's concert hall was built in 1988 to commemorate the town's 150th anniversary and is the main venue for the annual Mikkeli International Music Festival. Today Mikkeli is a fashionable holiday resort with plenty of holiday rentals, holiday apartments and holiday houses available to book. The town's attractions include the Visulahti Adventure Theme Park, the historic Anttolanhovi Manor, Kenkävero (a restuarant in a restored parsonage) and the Liehtalanniemi Farm Museum. Southern Savonia's other attractions include the world's largest wooden church in Kerimäki, the Valamo Orthodox Monastery in Heinävesi, Lake Suontee and rock paintings in Ristiina. The vineyards of Ollinmäen Viinitila are great place to sample traditional Finnish berry and fruit wines when renting a holiday home in Southern Savonia.
Heed the call of the wild in south east Finland
Popular recreational activities in Mikkeli include skating, skiing, kayaking and ice-fishing or simply relaxing with a traditional sauna. Sports equipment is easy to rent when staying at a holiday house or holiday rental nearby. Lake Saima is Europe's fourth largest natural freshwater lake and was formed by a massive glacial melt towards the end of the Ice Age. The lake is home to the endangered freshwater Saimaa Ringed Seal. Holiday homes by the Vuoksi River are popular with holidaymakers from Saint Petersburg while Losevo, between the lakes of Vuoksi, Suvanto and Sukhodolskoye has many kayaking and canoeing competitions. In Mäntyharju family friendly Miekankoski is an ideal location for fishing along its rapids and, if cooking freshly caught fish in the open air appeals, Lake Puula is renowned for its salmon.