Parikkala is a small town in the region of South Karelia, in the very eastern parts of Finland. The town center is located just around 10 kilometers from the border with Russia. This is the seat of the local municipality, which has a population of around 4.400 inhabitants.
A Short History of Parikkala
Parikkala has a long history as a border town. This has resulted in the many border changes and changes to the governing nation of the area. The area was for example a part of Russia from the signing of the Treaty of Nystad between Sweden and Russia in 1721. This lasted until it became a part of the Grand Duchy of Finland during the Russian rule of Finland. The Second World War did also cause new changes to the border through the area with a third of the municipality’s area becoming a part of the Soviet Union.
Things to Do and See
The vast forests and large lakes of the area offer near unlimited nature experiences. Even the Russian border might offer some excitement, but it is far from recommended to walk too close. In addition there is the town center with businesses located along its main street and a larger grocery store at the northern end.
Parikkala Church
Parikkala Church is a yellow and white wooden church located to the south of the center. It was designed by the Italian architect Carlo Bassi and built in the 1810’s. The church can seat around 1600 visitors.
Battle of Tyrjä Memorial
Close to the church is a memorial to the Battle of Tyrjä that took place in 1941. It was a battle during the Continuation War against Russia and one of the biggest battles in the region of Ladoga Karelia. The memorial itself was inaugurated in 1991.
Rantapuisto Beach
Rantapuisto Beach is right next to the town center. It lies at the shores of Lake Pyhäjärvi at the camping ground of Papinniemi.
Parikkala Sculpture Park
A few kilometers to the south of the urban area is a rest stop along Road 6. Here you will not only be close to the Russian border, but you will also be really close to a large amount of humanoid sculptures. The Finnish sculptor Veijo Rönkkönen (1942-2010) spent almost 50 years to create his life work. In total there are around 560 concrete sculptures in this park. Some might find them fascinating and others might find themselves in a horror movie.
How to Get to Parikkala
- Flights: Lappeenranta Airport (LPP) is 100 kilometers to the southeast.
- Car: Parikkala is along Road 6 between Simpele and Särkisalmi.
- Train: There are trains to Parikkala from Helsinki, Joensuu, and Savonlinna.
The driving distance from 5 major Finnish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Helsinki – 326 kilometers (3 h 37 min)
- Turku – 485 kilometers (5 h 14 min)
- Vaasa – 536 kilometers (6 h 35 min)
- Oulu – 505 kilometers (6 h 6 min)
- Joensuu – 139 kilometers (1 h 41 min)
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