Kuhmo

In a part of Finland struggling with decreasing population, Kuhmo has turned it to their advantage with sound self-irony, such as marketing themselves as the municipality with the hairiest population (clue: think claws). The Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival is famous, with many visitors from the south and even from abroad.

Kuhmo lies amidst the forests and lakes of eastern Finland, some 600 kilometres north of Helsinki. The nearest railway station and airport are in Kajaani, with connections to Kuhmo by bus and taxi.
From Kostomuksha in Russian Karelia you can come via the Vartius/Люття border crossing (open daytime only).

• Kuhmo Arts Centre

  phone: +358 8 615 55451
  address: Koulukatu 1, FI-88900 Kuhmo, Finland
  The Kuhmo Arts Centre offers a great variety of high quality congress spaces right in the city centre of Kuhmo. The Lentua hall and Pajakka hall also offer facilities for groups from 99 – 668 people. The woodwork of the uniquely beautiful Lentua hall was crafted by local carpenters. Restaurant Juttua offers tasty meals during the intervals. As Kuhmo is famous for chamber music as well as traditional folk music, it is also possible to be entertained by musicians and artists from local students up to international celebrities between your meetings.

• Kuhmo Visitor Centre Petola

  phone: +358 20-639-6380, +358 40-825-6060
  address: Lentiirantie 342, 88900 Kuhmo
  National park visitor centre. The Predators on the Prowl exhibition and short nature films. 0.5 km accessible nature trail. Information on national parks and similar destinations in the area; maps, souvenirs, fishing permits. Snowshoes for hire.

Festivals

• Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival

  phone: +358 8 652 0936
  address: Torikatu 39, FI-88900 Kuhmo, Finland
  Leading chamber musicians transfix the town of Kuhmo in Eastern Finland every July with a skilfully designed festival programme, inimitable concerts, beautiful surroundings and sunlit nights that open the senses to new and sublime delight. The festival is the biggest chamber music festival in Finland (where most cities have their own), with some 70 concerts and 35.000 tickets sold. Concerts are held in the acoustically superb Lentua Hall of the Kuhmo Arts Centre, in the assembly hall of Kontio School, and in the town’s fine old wooden church. Although these venues are all within easy walking distance of one an­other, cycling remains the preferred mode of transport for both artists and audiences alike.

• Jolly July

  address: Torikatu 39
  Jolly July is an important part of the Kuhmo summer: a time when there’s plenty for all the family to do together – culture, nature and exercise. Grasp the activity summer with both hands! Don’t be put off by the heat or the rain. July is just for you and your children, just for you and your parents and grandparents. Fun, dreams, music, silence, feeling good, being together and surprises.

• Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter

  phone: +358 8 652 0936
  address: c/o Kuhmo Chamber Music, Torikatu 39, FI-88900 Kuhmo, Finland
  Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter is held every year in the beginning of January. It is a joint arena for the organisers and artists of various events, some of them internationally-acclaimed, it is a showcase for some of the best Kuhmo culture: music of many kinds, dance, exhibitions, film, nature photo and literary evenings. The aim of Kuhmo Culture Celebrates Winter is to present a wide selection of culture both to local residents and to people from further away. It is organised by Juminkeko, the Sommelo Music Festival, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, the City of Kuhmo, the Kuhmo Arts Centre and the Petola Nature Centre.

Hiking destinations

• ElimyssaloThe best of forest nature that Kainuu has to offer, according to Metsähallitus. Mires, old spruce forests, beard lichens, lush stream banks and small lakes and ponds. Also two old farms (Levävaara and Latvavaara; entrance to main buildings requires advance agreement, except at happenings). Elimyssalo form the Finnish-Russian Friendship Nature Reserve together with Kostomuksha Nature Reserve across the border. Lean-tos and campfire sites along the trails. From the Saari-Kiekki parking in the south, Levävaara and the central parts of the reserve can be reached on a 13 km hike on a marked trail around the Elimysjärvi lake. The trail crossing the area is part of the UKK trail.

Wildlife tours

• Articmedia

  phone: +358 50-579-0947
  address: Kivikiekintie 938, 88900 Kuhmo
  Wildlife watching tours in the Kuhmo area (hides and hiking), planned for seeing brown bear, wolf, wolverine or golden eagle. Also snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, smoke sauna, ice swimming, fishing, canoeing, walks in the silence of the Finnish forest etc.

• Boreal Wildlife Centre

  phone: +358 400-187-286
  address: Viiksimontie 2991, 88900 Kuhmo
  Wildlife watching (bear, wolves, wolverine and birds). Elimyssalo nature reserve and Iso-Palonen hiking area are near by. Room accommodation in middle of wilderness in beautiful place next to beautiful lake.

• Hotelli Kainuu

  phone: +358 8 6551711
  address: Kainuuntie 84
  The one and only place to go drinking in Kuhmo.

• Hotel Kalevala

  phone: +358 8 655-4100
  address: Väinämöinen 9, 88900 Kuhmo
  Caters to holiday, special occasion and business visitors. Almost all rooms (44 double rooms and 3 suites) have a great lakeview. Well-being department with saunas, massage treatments etc. Cuisine designed for international taste whilst using local produce, meats and techniques.

• Tulijärven Tuvat

  phone: +358 44-594-2757
  address: Mäntyrannantie 41, 88900 KUHMO
  A Holiday village for the whole family. Cottages year round. Beautiful, peaceful and fresh wildlife around lake Tulijärvi (swimming possible). Versatile terrain for hiking, berry-picking, hunting and many other activities. In winter a wide ski track network.

• Hotel Kainuu

  phone: +358 8 655-4100
  address: Kainuuntie 84, FI-88900 Kuhmo, Finland

• Hiidenportti National Park: old-growth forest, the Hiidenpotti gorge, and silence. Connected to the Peurajärvi Recreational area with child-friendly beaches, and to the Teerisuo-Lososuo mire reserve.