Discover Mannervaara

Mannervaara is located between Runon ja Rajan tie and the Finnish state border. As one of the Pilkekylät villages, it lies on the eastern edge of Tuupovaara along today’s Korpiseläntie and Pirttijärventie. For orientation, it is helpful to consider two scales: Mannervaara as an individual place and the larger group of villages to which it belongs. Local history can be traced particularly through a former store site and historical references to the border.

Border history at the former store

At the site of the former store, a piece of iron rod is fixed into a concrete block by the roadside. The border markers of the former provinces of Viipuri and Kuopio were once attached to this rod. The border established by the Treaty of Nystad also ran through the same spot. Thus, two historical references to the border meet in one specific place: the markers once attached there for the former provinces, and a boundary line determined by a peace treaty.

The so-called Tynkä-Korpiselkä area is also part of the historical context. Hoilola, Saarivaara, Mannervaara, Ruhovaara and Saaroinen make up this group of villages. When peace was concluded, the villages from the municipality of Korpiselkä and the province of Viipuri remained on the Finnish side. The name Tynkä-Korpiselkä brings together the shared history of several villages; Mannervaara is explicitly part of the group.

Historical routes and orientation

The former route network is also connected to the store. It stood at a crossroads of four roads leading to Ilomantsi, Värtsilä, Luutalahti and Ruhovaara. These details describe the directions at the time and make the crossroads another point of reference in the local history. The border history and Mannervaara’s historical road network thus come together at the same spot.

Activities in the Tuupovaara area

Beyond local history, the wider Tuupovaara travel area offers a range of opportunities on the water. The Jänisjoki water route includes tranquil lake stretches for church-boat trips and challenging rapids for experienced paddlers. Conditions vary considerably: the quieter lake passages and the rapids suit different expectations for a paddling trip.

For hiking, a marked route of about 37 kilometres runs near the state border through Hoilola and Öllölä to the Vekarus recreation area and onwards to the church village of Tuupovaara. Shepherd boy symbols and red markings indicate the route. Vekaruskoski is also located in the Tuupovaara area, along the Paimenpojan polku hiking trail. These are specific regional routes and natural attractions; they complement Mannervaara’s local history with activities in the wider travel area.

If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, one priority can help you choose: are you mainly interested in Mannervaara’s border and village history, or would you like to include water excursions and hiking destinations in the Tuupovaara area in your trip?

Discover more destinations: Karhunmäki, Vuonislahti, Tuupovaara, Juuka, Kontiolahti, Kesälahti, Polvijärvi, Elomäki.

For the overview of the wider travel area: North Karelia.