Kempele: Hiking Trails, Old Church and Local Heritage Museum

When planning a trip to Kempele, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: the Köykkyrin retkireitistö trail network is designed for hiking and cycling, while the Old Church and the Local Heritage Museum offer a cultural and historical focus. Limingan lakeus, a nationally valuable landscape area, is also located in southern Kempele.

Hiking and Cycling on Köykkyrin retkireitistö

The Köykkyrin retkireitistö trail network is 36 kilometres long and designed for cycling and hiking. It comprises five circular trails. These two figures describe different aspects: 36 kilometres is the length of the network, while five is the number of circular trails it contains. When planning a trip, you can therefore distinguish the total length of the network from the route shape of an individual circular trail.

There are three campfire sites along the network, as well as Marjakammi, a rest stop. These points add places to take a break to the information about the circular trails. When planning, you can consider route shape and rest stops separately: the circular trails describe the routes, while the campfire sites and Marjakammi are places to rest along the network.

The Old Church and a Protected Cultural Site

Kempele Old Church is one of Finland’s eleven surviving valuable post-supported churches. Its walls and vault feature wood paintings by Mikael Toppelius and Emanuel Granberg, made in 1785–1786 and 1795. The building offers two cultural and historical perspectives: the post-supported church structure and its paintings.

The 26-metre-high tower was also once used as a navigational aid by seafarers. Its former role adds a maritime historical perspective to the building. Kirkonmäki in Kempele is protected under Finland’s Church Act. These cultural sites therefore offer different points of interest: the Old Church can be explored through its structure, paintings and the tower’s former function, while legal protection is a defining feature of Kirkonmäki.

Local Heritage Museum and Landscape

The Kempele Local Heritage Museum presents a typical farmstead from the Ostrobothnia region. Its special features include Finland’s only soldier’s house and its only peat hut. Compared with the Old Church, the museum offers a different focus: here, the farmstead and its distinctive buildings take centre stage, while the church is notable for its structure and wood paintings. You can choose between these cultural topics based on your interest in architecture, visual arts or farming history.

Limingan lakeus, a nationally valuable landscape area, is located in southern Kempele. Its location in the south gives you a specific point of reference when getting your bearings in Kempele. The landscape area also complements the themes of trails and cultural sites with a distinct landscape perspective.

Kempele Railway Station and Travel Planning

Kempele railway station is in the town centre at Asemantie 12. The address gives you a specific reference point for planning your journey. As timetables can change, check the current timetable before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Oulu, Pyhäjoki, Pyhäntä, Hankamäki, Hailuoto, Merijärvi, Siikajoki, Paimio

For the wider travel guide: North Ostrobothnia.