In Kalevala, the Museum of Rune Singers, the Kalevalatalo Ethnocultural Centre and the Lennrot relict pine offer different ways to explore local culture and history. When choosing where to stay, you can narrow down your focus: are you mainly interested in collections, the centre’s activities or a landmark in the settlement?
Kalevalatalo: Collection, Tours and Crafts
The museum department of the Kalevalatalo Ethnocultural Centre preserves a collection on the ethnography and history of the northern Karelians. It comprises 2,134 objects; the collection may change over time. Kalevalatalo is therefore a starting point for anyone interested in the history and ethnographic topics of the northern Karelians. The Museum of Rune Singers is another distinct cultural landmark in the settlement.
The Ethnocultural Centre offers introductory sightseeing tours of Kalevala. Tours of the centre’s museums are conducted in Russian and Finnish. The crafts department offers folk craft workshops and classes as part of ethnocultural education programmes. Sightseeing tours, museum tours and educational activities are different formats. As the languages offered may change, check the language, dates and current arrangements directly with the centre in advance.
Three museums are under the operational management of the Ethnocultural Centre. The centre also manages the House of Engineer Moberg, which is designated an architectural monument. Thus, alongside its collection and educational activities, the local cultural context also includes a named architectural monument.
Local History in the Centre of the Settlement
The Lennrot relict pine stands in the centre of the settlement of Kalevala. Until 1963, the place was called Ukhta. The tree and the former place name offer two different connections to local history: one is a specific landmark in today’s settlement, while the other is an earlier name for the place. The Museum of Rune Singers is also located in the settlement of Kalevala and adds a cultural dimension to this local connection.
More Perspectives in the Republic of Karelia
In the wider destination of the Republic of Karelia, the range of themes extends beyond local ethnoculture. At Kivach Nature Reserve, an introductory excursion includes an outdoor walk to Kivach Waterfall, as well as visits to the dendrological collection and the nature museum. The waterfall is on the Suna River and has a drop of 10.7 metres. A 1,000-metre circular trail passes through a wooded area along the banks of the Suna, near the excursion zone; the excursion lasts 1 to 1.5 hours. Check current conditions and booking with the operator.
The Kizhi Museum Reserve offers a distinct focus on traditional wooden architecture in the Republic of Karelia: its open-air collection features 89 monuments, including old chapels and houses, mills, granaries, threshing barns and drying racks. Visitors can explore the interior of the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God and of peasant houses; traditional peasant crafts are demonstrated in the houses. The Kizhi Pogost is an architectural ensemble featuring the world’s only multi-domed wooden Church of the Transfiguration.
Another cultural theme is the Onega and White Sea petroglyphs. The World Heritage site includes 4,500 Neolithic rock carvings in the Republic of Karelia. The Onega petroglyphs comprise more than 1,200 figures in Pudozhsky District; most are located on the three central capes of Pery Nos, Besov Nos and Kladovets. The White Sea petroglyphs mainly depict hunting and sailing scenes and related equipment, as well as animal and human footprints. The Republic of Karelia thus brings together a range of cultural highlights: an ethnographic collection in Kalevala, traditional wooden architecture on Kizhi, and Neolithic rock art.
Discover more destinations: Pedaselga, Chalna, Kondopoga, Salmi, Shyoltozero, Tiurula, Yushkozero, Konchezero.
For the wider travel overview: Republic of Karelia.
