The Maisemareitti trail – for those who love history
I was already familiar with the Maisemareitti trail from a few years ago when the July warmth embraced us with a cloudless sky. Now, in early June, summer was still holding back, and the gloves I was wearing were a necessary accessory in the sunny but rather chilly fair weather. The Maisemareitti trail follows the […]
Supernatural Pyhä-Näsi Part II: Taneli Santala and Matti Mutila
As already stated, the activity of the Hurstinen couple, who were the focus of the first part of “Supernatural Pyhä-Näsi”, was not a singular phenomenon, but a part of a long tradition of witchcraft in the Ruovesi region. In the second part of “Supernatural Pyhä-Näsi”, we take look at two other representatives of this continuum from the 1800s, Taneli Santala and Matti Mutila.
Supernatural Pyhä-Näsi Part I: Heikki and Hetastiina Hurstinen
There is an abundance of stories of supernatural occurrences and people immersed in the occult – witches, sages, and healers – in the Pyhä-Näsi region. Especially such stories are linked to the area of Ruovesi and its neighbouring municipalities. In previous centuries, Ruovesi has been widely known for its witches, and this reputation has been exploited in later years – there is a Noitakäräjät (Witch court) -happening organized there every summer.
The sculptures of Emil Wikström in the Pyhä-Näsi area
The region of Pyhä-Näsi played a significant role also in the life of perhaps the most notable Finnish sculptor of his time, Emil Wikström (1864–1942). Key locations of Wikström’s life can be found in several localities within Pyhä-Näsi, the most important being his home and studio Visavuori, which is situated in Sääksmäki village, a part of the city of Valkeakoski. Also, a numerous quantity of his public sculptures can be found in the area.
Wanderer 2
“August is just a perfect travelling month in Finland by bike. Finnish nature is at its most bountiful in august when the crop is been gathered from the fields, apples are ripe and ready and you can really sense the aroma of sweetness while passing farms, apple gardens and wild meadows.” Day 1. Distance 80 […]
Wanderer 1
“It has been just an amazing summer in Finland. So many sunny days and so incredible warm swimming waters. While cycling I love the most that cooling wind that gently pulls your t-shirt while rolling up and down the sandy country roads and stopping for photographing and for a swim. This is definitely a paradise […]
The Pyhä-Näsi of Akseli Gallen-Kallela
The life of Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931), at times dubbed even the national painter of Finland, is connected to the Pyhä-Näsi area in various ways. The best known of these connections is his wilderness atelier and home Kalela, which was built in Ruovesi in the middle of the 1890s, but traces of the artist can be found in Visuvesi, Mänttä-Vilppula, Keuruu, Tampere, and Sääksmäki, too.
Scenic Route
Tampere region’s most famous cycling destination The Scenic Route (Maisemareitti) charms with ease because you can rotate it within one day. The whole trip is 30 km, so you can add some hooks and loops if you wish. I made some extra trips because I wanted to use all day visiting as many Pyhäjärvi beaches […]
