Leppävirta: Ice, Skiing and Local History

The attractions offer different options for planning your day.

Ski Tunnel and Moomin Ice Cave

The Hiihtoareena is a ski tunnel carved into the rock. Children, recreational skiers and competitive athletes can ski there using both classic and freestyle techniques. The facility consists of an arena section and a tunnel section: the arena is 100 metres long, 40 metres wide and 10 metres high. The tunnel section measures 200 metres long, 16 metres wide and 5 metres high. This makes the tunnel twice as long, while the arena section is wider and higher. These dimensions give you a clear idea of the layout of the Hiihtoareena.

The Moomin Ice Cave offers something quite different and is located 30 metres below the earth’s surface. Ice sculptures bring the comic world of Tove Jansson to life. The winter activity park at the exhibition includes, among other things, a tubing hill and an ice slide; availability may vary seasonally.

Local History and Architecture

The Leppävirta Museum presents local history from the Stone Age through to recent decades. It is housed in a two-storey granary and is located in the centre, right next to the church. The museum thus combines a broad historical overview with a historic building. Its central location is also a useful reference point when planning your visit.

Leppävirta Church is a granite church designed by C. L. Engel and completed in 1846. It can accommodate more than 2,000 people. Its two-part altarpiece depicts the Crucifixion and the Last Supper. Guided tours are available on request in Finnish, German, Swedish and English; advance booking is required. Arrange a tour before your trip.

Leppävirta Bridge is also a local landmark in the church village. It is 210 metres long, connects the church village and was completed in August 1965. It thus serves a practical local function while marking a clearly dated chapter in the history of infrastructure.

Canals, Rapids and a Gorge Landscape

The nearby Konnus Canal area is 8 kilometres from the Leppävirta church village. Three canals of different ages and five rapids connect Kallavesi and Unnukka. The historic rapids area has boardwalks, fishing piers and a shelter with a campfire site for anglers and hikers. This lets you combine the waterway infrastructure with facilities for a range of outdoor activities.

Nearby, at Orinoro, a marked nature trail about 7 kilometres long leads to a steep-sided gorge carved by glaciers. The gorge is about 200 metres long and almost 20 metres deep at its deepest point. A spring rises at the bottom; snow and ice remain in the gorge until June. The trail length and landscape offer different points of reference for planning: the route is a marked nature trail, while the gorge itself is defined by its steep sides and seasonal remnants of ice and snow.

Discover more destinations: Kuhmo, Oravikoski, Heinävesi, Ruokolahti, Anttola, Kosula.

See the main travel overview: Saimaa Lakes.