Sulkava is located in South Savo, surrounded by the waters of Lake Saimaa. Its rowing history, cultural heritage and trails through forest and lake landscapes offer different ways to shape a trip. For planning purposes, seasonal events, routes and historical sites can be considered separately rather than combined into a fixed itinerary.
Rowing and Cycling
The Sulkavan Suursoudut takes place in Sulkava every July and has been held since 1968. It brings together the traditional boatbuilding heritage of Savo and the sport of rowing. In the Sulkava Rowing Regatta on Lake Saimaa, hundreds of wooden church boats compete over 60 kilometres. Competitors take part in teams, pairs or individually.
Sulkava can also be included in a longer cycling route: the Great Saimaa Cycling Route passes through the church village and continues via Partalansaari to Puumala. Sulkava can be chosen as the starting point for the route. The section through the church village and its continuation across the island give the tour a different scale from a single outing in town.
Architecture and Industrial History
The bell tower is considered the town’s oldest surviving building; it is believed to have been built around 1770. The Rauhaniemi Museum is less than ten kilometres from the centre of Sulkava. It consists of an open-air museum and a lumberjack museum. Nearby, visitors can therefore choose between a single historic building and two distinct museum sections.
The Telataipale Canal in Sulkava is the northernmost of the four Suvorov canals. A mill and a water-powered sawmill operated in Lohikoski from 1814 to 1911. The old mill building, together with other buildings and structures, forms a well-preserved cultural heritage site protected nationwide. At Lohikoski Mill, visitors can see the equipment used for grinding grain and learn about its history by prior arrangement.
Hillfort and Nature Trails
Pisamalahti Hillfort is one of Finland’s most valuable prehistoric hillforts. Remains of a 12th-century defensive wall survive on the summit. The hill stands about 55 metres above the water level of Lake Enonvesi. Pisamalahti can be reached by land or water; from the car park, it is about a 500-metre walk to the steps leading to the summit. Both the historic remains and the specific walking distance are therefore part of planning a visit.
Vilkaharju is an esker about four kilometres long, with a gravel ridge landscape to explore on foot. Two marked nature-trail sections are about 3.1 and 3.6 kilometres long. Vilkaharju is a nature reserve: making fires, pitching tents and other forms of camping are prohibited. The longer Lohilahden Eräreitistö trail is 35 kilometres long and passes through the wilderness of Lohikoski, by old forest reserves and lake landscapes. Comparing the route lengths helps you gauge the planned hike without assuming a walking time or difficulty level.
The Iitlahti wetland on Lake Saimaa covers more than 20 hectares. Deep and shallow water, open and sheltered areas, and small islands shape the landscape. A road leads to the birdwatching platform; follow the signs from Sulkavantie 435. For a different perspective, take a canoe trip on the Oravareitti: 21 information boards can be seen from a canoe, and the route passes through a variety of lakes, rivers and rapids. Water conditions on the Oravareitti are best in May and June.
Getting There and Finding Your Way on the Water
Sulkava can be reached by car, bus or boat via the Saimaa lakes. The rowing stadium, Kulkemus boat centre and harbour are in the Uitonrinne area between the shore of Lake Saimaa and Mikkolantie. Together with the cycling route, canoe routes and hiking trails, these offer different ways to explore Sulkava; their respective distances, conditions and access points remain separate considerations when planning.
Discover more destinations: Lötjölä, Kerimäki, Putikko, Vuoriniemi, Ihamaniemi, Hiukkajoki, Kumpuranta, Savonranta.
For the broader travel overview: Savonlinna.
