Rautalampi
Rautalampi is the west-most village in Eastern Finland. It is located in the region of North Savonia.
Understand
Rautalampi is a vibrant municipality with about 3 500 inhabitans. In the summer there is a significant increase in the population as people come to their summer cottages. Rautalampi's vast forest and numerous lakes make it a very beautiful area. The whole municipality can be travelled around by water and also the town center is sorrounded by lakes.
Rautalampi has a rich cultural history; many authors, musicians and artists, such as the Finlandia Prize awarded author Kari Hotakainen, have their roots in Rautalampi.
- Tourist Information, Kuopiontie 13, ☏ +358 40 647 5277.
Get in
By train
The nearest railway station is Suonenjoki about 20 km east of Rautalampi. There is a bus connection available from there.
By plane
The nearest airports are Rissala in Kuopio, 70 km north-east of Rautalampi and Tikkakoski (near Jyväskylä) 90 km south-west of Rautalampi.
By car
National road 9 between Jyväskylä and Kuopio passes near the town.
Get around
Public transportation is only available on the main roads. To get around and see something else than the main village, a car or bike is strongly recommended.
See
- Rautalampi Lutheran Church, Kirkkotie 4. The church of Rautalampi is one of the biggest wooden churches in northern Europe. It was designed by C.A. Engel, who also designed the cathedral and many other buildings in Helsinki.
- Rautalampi Museum, Kuopiontie 26. The Rautalampi Museum hosts an extraordinarily wide collection – over 50,000 objects and recordings – giving a good overview of local history. There are also changing exhibitions.
- Orthodox Church, Nikolaoksentie 1. After World War II, a lot of Karelian evacuees have treasured the Orthodox tradition in Rautalampi. The church building, sacralized to honour Saint Nicholas the Worker, is near the library.
- Mansions. There are expectionally many old mansions in Rautalampi. Most of them are now privately owned, but you can find a restaurant on reservation in both the Ropola Mansion and the Korhola Mansion. Korhola also offers B & B.
- Liimattanharju Esker. Road number 543 winds from the town center of Rautalampi all the way to Kerkonkoski. This beautiful scenic route runs between four lakes on Liimattalanharju esker.
Do
- Riding school. Rautalampi has a riding high-school, the only one in Finland.
- The library, Rautalammintie 4. Rautalampi Library serves tourists and local residents. Besides normal library services there are WiFi and computers with free internet connection available. A local speciality is the Finnskog collection of Forest Finns (the king had Finns from the Finnish forests move across the Gulf of Bothnia to put those forests to use).
- Elämysten ja ystävyyden kartano, ☏ +358 40 838 5599, info@eyk.fi.
Events
- Runon ja laulun Rautalampi. Culture event in June.
- Pestuumarkkinat. Pestuumarkkinat market fair is Rautalampi's biggest annual event. It is held during second weekend of September.
Buy
- Artteli. Artteli, in the village center, sells all sorts of handicrafts.
- [dead link] Myllyni Makasiini, Kuopiontie 46.
- Pestarin Valinta, Kuopiontie 17, ☏ +358 652 7740.
- Kelloliike T.F.Hemming, Kuopiontie 24, ☏ +358 17 530 470.
- Rautalammin Apteekki, Torikuja 4, ☏ +358 17 530 051.
Eat
- Ravintola Nuapuri, Kuopiontie 21, ☏ +358 400 601 889.
- [dead link] Kahvila-Ravintola Piilopirtti, Alatie 8, ☏ +358 40532 9024.
- Törmälän Loma- ja kurssikeskus, Konnekoskentie 552, ☏ +358 40 558 2439.
During the summer only
- Kesä-Aurora, Kuopiontie 17, ☏ +358 40 911 7437.
- Kivisalmen Kievari, Rautalammintie 1935 (in Konnevesi).
- Nokisen Kipsa (in Nokisenkoski, Vaajasalmi), ☏ +358 45 151 8585.
- Kerkonkosken Lohikeidas, Repolantie 11 (in Kerkonjoensuu), ☏ +358 400 467 966.
Drink
There are at least three pubs in Rautalampi.
Sleep
There is a youth hostel in Rautalampi and a camping site. Also available are a few mansions.
Go next
| Routes through Rautalampi |
| Jyväskylä ← Hankasalmi ← | SW  E |
→ Suonenjoki → Kuopio |