Parikkala

Parikkala combines nature watching, hiking trails and cultural and historical sites. The Rantaraitti trail along Lake Simpelejärvi, the Sikoharju Nature Reserve, the present-day church and Hauta-Olli’s hut offer different perspectives on the area.

Rantaraitti and bird migration at Lake Simpelejärvi

The Rantaraitti trail runs along the shore of Lake Simpelejärvi. The 1.5-kilometre route connects the centre of Parikkala with views of Lake Simpelejärvi and the Sikoharju Nature Reserve. The path is suitable for people with disabilities. The hiking route can be accessed either via Rantaraitti from the direction of the centre or from the yard of Parikkala municipal hall. This allows you to consider the lakeside route and its two stated access directions together, without confusing it with a single trail in Sikoharju.

The time of year is also relevant for Rantaraitti: in spring and autumn, it lies on a bird migration route and offers good opportunities for birdwatching. On the busiest migration days, tens of thousands of Arctic geese can be seen over Parikkala. The migration seasons and the particularly high observation numbers go together, but they are not the same thing: the figure refers to the busiest days. So if you want to combine your visit with bird migration, you can use spring and autumn as seasonal guides.

Hiking trails in the Sikoharju Nature Reserve

Sikoharju is part of an extensive ridge, and the nature reserve has several hiking trails. The hiking route there is approximately two kilometres long. This is a second specific route length, in addition to Rantaraitti’s 1.5 kilometres. When comparing them, note which path is meant: the shorter distance refers to Rantaraitti, while the approximate two-kilometre distance refers to the hiking route in Sikoharju. The Rantaraitti–Sikoharju route is considered easy and accessible. You can weigh the route length, the lakeside landscape and the nature reserve as different considerations when planning your visit.

The church and local history

The present-day church of Parikkala was built from 1813 to 1817 to plans by the Italian-born architect Carlo Bassi, under the direction of master builder Matti Salonen. It stands on the same site where two churches had previously stood. The construction period and continuity of location offer two different points of reference for local history: one relates to the creation of the present-day church, the other to the earlier use of the same site. For those interested in history, Parikkala’s historic church building is another specific point of interest, alongside the exhibitions at Hauta-Olli’s hut.

Hauta-Olli’s hut and everyday life

Hauta-Olli’s hut is a local history museum in Parikkala, where farming tools and household items from the early 20th century have been collected. The main room is furnished as a farmhouse from that period, with a dining table and dishes. The adjoining room houses an exhibition on the history of Parikkala. The two rooms have different focuses: the main room highlights the furnishings of a rural home, while the adjoining room focuses on the history of the area. Together, they offer a glimpse of both everyday objects and Parikkala’s past. This makes the hut a good place to visit for travellers interested in local cultural history as well as the landscape.

Monument to the defenders of Ladoga

A monument to the defenders of Ladoga stands on a ridge near Parikkala municipal hall. It adds another specific place of remembrance to the historical themes of the church and local history museum. When choosing what to focus on, you can combine nature and hiking at Rantaraitti or in Sikoharju with different sites connected to local history.

Discover more destinations: Imatra, Kannuskoski, Lappeenranta, Tainionkoski, Rautjärvi, Säimen, Syyspohja, Lemi.

Return to the main travel guide: South Karelia.