Simo: Churches, Cultural Landscapes and Mires

When looking for a hotel in Simo, you can plan your trip around your interests. The municipality of Simo offers cultural and natural attractions ranging from churches, museums and historic village settings to mires, fishing opportunities and a local specialty. You can start by deciding whether cultural history, nature or a particular event date will be the focus of your stay.

Cultural Landscapes, Churches and Village History

Simoniemi and Simonkylä have preserved an unusually large amount of pre-Second World War architecture for Lapland. Both villages are part of the nationally significant “Simojoen suun kulttuurimaisemat” cultural landscape. The Simonkylä and Simoniemi landscape management area is also noteworthy: it is Finland’s fourth nationally designated landscape management area. Along the Simonkylä Museum Road, the cultural landscape is part of the nationally valued Simojoki cultural landscape area.

Since 1982, a 2.9-kilometre section of the local road in Simonkylä has held the status of a museum road. The Simon Church in Simoniemi was designed by Ernst Bernhard Lohrmann and completed in 1846. It is a towerless, rectangular long church in the late Empire style. Its dimensions are also specifically documented: 28.5 metres long and 15.5 metres wide.

The Simon bell tower was built by Heikki Väänänen in 1773. Its wooden structure is considered a simple example of Ostrobothnian Renaissance architecture, while its roof surfaces have Baroque forms. The tower roof is made of triangular wooden shingles. The church and bell tower feature different architectural details that are well worth seeing if built heritage is a focus of your visit.

Museums and Routes Through the Cultural Landscape

The Pahnila Museum displays original objects that tell the story of local history and culture, local traditions and life in different eras. The Simoniemi Local Heritage Museum is housed in a former church granary and also presents local traditions, stories and heritage. Museum opening arrangements may vary, so check them before visiting.

Those interested in the landscape along the Simojoki can explore the traditional Peräpohjola cultural landscape around the river estuary on the Wanha Simo route. The Simonkylä nature trail starts at Nikkilänsuvanto and follows the banks of the Simojoki for part of its route. The two routes offer different ways to experience the landscape: Wanha Simo passes through the cultural landscape, while the nature trail follows the riverbank for part of its length.

Mires and Nature Watching

Martimoaapa is a 124-square-kilometre mire conservation area established in 1982 to protect valuable mire landscapes, plants and animals. The Martimoaapa-Lumiaapa-Penikat mire conservation area is one of the most important protected mire areas in northern Finland and is particularly significant for endangered birds. On the Hangassalmenaho side of Martimoaapa, there is a 2.5-kilometre circular trail and two birdwatching towers.

At the Simo Land Uplift Park, ten information points illustrate how the coastline has shifted over the past 500 years. Ongoing land uplift is pushing the sea farther away from the mainland. The stops therefore focus on long-term changes to the landscape. If you are planning a nature-focused visit, both the mire area and the changing coastline are highlights here.

Fishing and Local Specialties

The rapids and still-water areas of the Simojoki offer fishing opportunities. On the lower Simojoki, traditional fishing methods include bank fishing with artificial lures and fishing from a rowing boat. About 90 percent of the waters within the municipality of Simo fall within fishing permit area “2581 Simojoki, Simo”. Before fishing, check the applicable rules and how permits are sold; seasonal conditions are also relevant when planning your trip.

Lamprey is a local specialty. Visitors can try it at the Nahkiaismarkkinat, held annually in mid-September. Exact event dates may vary, so it is advisable to check before travelling. This allows you to coordinate your hotel booking and market visit with the confirmed date.

Discover more destinations: Kemijärvi, Posio, Räisälä, Kaamanen, Äkäslompolo, Patokoski, Kemi, Nellim.

For the broader travel overview: Lapland.