An Olympic-size 50-metre pool, five rapids and a quarry over 40 metres deep offer different ways to enjoy the water in Kuortane. There is also a sandy beach, a bird area and historic collections. When planning your trip, you can weigh up whether sport and wellness, nature watching or culture will shape your visit.
Water, Wellness and Nature
Kuortane Sport Spa is a centre for aquatic fitness and wellness next to the Kuortane Olympic Training Center. Its Olympic-size pool is 50 metres long and has ten lanes. There is also a multi-purpose pool for water aerobics, personal care and low-impact exercise, as well as massage showers for rest and relaxation. The range of water activities and wellbeing services is aimed at visitors of all ages.
The Sarvikkaankosket comprises five rapids along a 3.6-kilometre stretch of water. Spinning and fly fishing are available there. The area also has a swimming beach, a campfire site, a lean-to shelter, a kota hut and a sauna. This natural attraction offers both the rapids and several facilities to enjoy.
The two quarries at Kaatiala are quite different: the smaller one is used as a local swimming spot. The larger one is over 40 metres deep and a popular place for scuba diving. Kirkkoranta, a long sandy beach on the shallow lake, lies on Kuortaneenjärvi. Pennalanlahti, a southern bay of Kuortaneenjärvi, offers a different perspective on nature: it is an important bird area where thousands of birds can be seen at once.
Church, Museums and Local History
Kuortane Church is a wooden cruciform church built in 1777 by master church builder Antti Hakola. The bell tower beside it was built by Olof Häggblad in 1837. It is considered one of Finland’s most beautiful bell towers.
In the centre of Kuortane, the Talomuseo includes buildings dating from the 16th to the 20th century and a collection of 2,500 objects. On the grounds, the Kirkkomuseo in the Ala-Kulju granary displays historic church furnishings, decorated wooden grave markers, a foot stock and a pillory. The Korsumuseo shows, through authentic objects donated by war veterans, how people lived in a dugout during the war.
The Klemetti Museum is also located in the centre. It presents memories of the work of Armi and Heikki Klemetti and of Finnish choral singing in past decades. In Salmenkylä, Piiskoomänty is one of Kuortane’s attractions. Public corporal punishments were carried out at this site from the 17th to the 19th century.
Tar History and Trails
The 2.5-kilometre Tervarinki Trail runs through the centre of Kuortane to places where tar played an important role. The tar-burning tradition continues in the Aholankangas area during Terwaviikko, held every four years in July. Kaatiala Nature and Mineral Day takes place every year in early September.
For exercise in winter and other seasons, the trails at the Kuortane Olympic Training Center offer several stated distances: they cross to the grounds of the shooting range on the other side of Highway 66 and include 3, 6, 10 and 15-kilometre options. In winter, there is a skating-skiing trail and a classic cross-country ski trail. The stated distances and the two winter trails provide separate points of reference for planning your visit.
Discover more destinations: Kauhava, Länsikylä, Närvijoki, Kätkänjoki, Kurikka, Ähtäri, Peräseinäjoki, Alavus.
For the regional travel overview: South Ostrobothnia.
