In the spring and winter of 2024, we started working on village tourism, and time has flown by – that's how it should be when the work is meaningful and the company is good. The Traveling to Kerkonkosken project, managed by Kerkonkosken Ketterä ry, differed in nature from the previous Kerkolla kylään project, which focused on concrete measures.

Local residents have played an active role in the development work. The like-minded project team members have formed an excellent team.

The first year was largely spent brainstorming, mapping, and building guidelines and partnerships. In the second year, we got down to business when it was time for a study trip to Germany. The trip was rewarding and brought with it a wealth of new ideas, insights, and international contacts. As a result of these insights, the project focused on day visitors from the surrounding area. Several hundred thousand people live within an hour's drive, and the range of tourism services is only just beginning to develop. So why reach out to Central Europe at this stage when there is potential right next door?

Hankkeen aikana syntyi KyläretkiVillage trip- concept, which we hope will continue in the future with the help of the villagers. This year, five trips were organized, which have brought together over a hundred participants. In the winter, we went for a brisk walk to Noitanen Island during the full moon, in the spring we explored the World of Birds with the guidance of the Sisä-Savo Nature Friends, in the summer we cycled the Two Channels Tour and cruised on Lake Kiesimäjärvi, and in the autumn we explored the secrets of mushrooms with the guidance of Tuomo Vähäsarja.

The trips have allowed us to enjoy the area's magnificent nature, see familiar surroundings with new eyes, learn new skills and, above all, meet each other. The idea is that this fruit of the project - Village Trips - would live on and strengthen community long after the project has ended.

At the end of August, Kerkonkoski welcomed some eagerly awaited guests from Germany, from the Westliches Weserbergland Leader group. The Kerkonkoski Travel Project working group visited Germany in March, and now it was time to welcome their new partners on a return visit to the heart of Savo.

The group of five included employees of the Westliches Weserbergland Leader group, board members, and one municipal manager. Accommodation was arranged in a large cottage on the shore of Palvalahti, whose tranquility and lake views immediately impressed our guests. 

First encounter with Finland – salmon soup, sauna, and rowing boat

The first three guests arrived in Kerkonkoski late in the evening on August 27. The volunteers had prepared a warm welcome for them: traditional salmon soup, fresh rye bread, pickled cucumbers, and berry jelly. Markku heated up the wood-burning stove, and the guests immediately got to experience the essence of Finnish relaxation.

Thursday's program began in Vanhamäki, Suonenjoki, where we set off on an off-road trip to the trails of Lintharju on electric bikes led by Tatu Laine. The forest landscapes, berries, and traces of the Ice Age aroused a lot of interest. The day was otherwise quiet, as the rest of the guests did not arrive until the evening. We had time for lunch in Vanhamäki, did some grocery shopping, and in the evening Astrid picked up the last two guests from the airport.

In the evening, we enjoyed Karelian roast prepared by a former school cook at the cottage. The atmosphere was warm, and the guests were impressed by both the food and the hospitality of the villagers. At the end of the evening, Jörn and Marco were excited to try rowing on the dark lake.

Official meetings and culinary experiences

Friday was reserved for the more formal parts of the program. At the Rautalammi municipal office, we were welcomed by communications and culture coordinator Tiina Laitinen, municipal manager Anu Sepponen, and representatives of the Mansikka Development Association, executive director Kirsi Manninen and project advisor Elina Huerta. We heard about life in the municipality, Mansikka's projects, and Finnish association activities. The discussions also touched on the differences between Finland and Germany in terms of Leader work and the challenges of EU funding.

Next, we headed to the Käpylä hut to learn about the forest kindergarten's activities under the guidance of Pekka Seppälä. In Germany, similar daycare centers are commonplace, so the visitors were interested to see how the concept has been implemented in Finland.

We also had time to buy souvenirs: we visited a few flea markets and stopped by Artteli, a gift shop in Rautalammi. Lunch at Restaurant Ehdo was a culinary delight – the menu included vendace brioche, apple risotto, and blue cheese ice cream. We also heard stories about the history of the restaurant and the building.

In the afternoon, museum lecturer Liisa Paakkunainen led the guests on a history tour of the Rautalammi Museum in German. The garden, created in collaboration with the local Martha Organization, was of particular interest. The tour continued to Rautalammi Church, guided by Jaana Lehtolahti, and from there to the Orthodox Church, where Esko Nikander talked about the church's traditions in German.

We enjoyed pizza for dinner at Kerkonkosken Keita. We had a bit of luck during our walk in the harbor: the locals were fishing, and one of our guests, Jörn, got to try fishing for the first time in his life. After that, we stopped by the village hall in Seurala, where project worker Johanna Koponen told us about the village's projects and events.

On Friday evening, Kerkonkoski celebrated Venetian carnival. The village was filled with light art and atmosphere – even an ancient figure appeared at Mylly to greet us. At the end of the evening, we told our guests to keep an eye on the night sky. Soon we received a message: the northern lights had been seen and captured on camera!

Art, local delicacies, and ancient fires

On Saturday, we headed to Pirkko Toiviainen's, aka Anna Wildrose's, art gallery. Pirkko told us about the background and techniques behind her works, after which the guests also got to try their hand at art. The men in particular laughed at their own attempts, but received lavish praise from Pirkko – and quite deservedly so.

Internationalization is an essential part of the objectives of the Matkaillen Kerkonkoskelle (Traveling to Kerkonkoski) project, which will be implemented in 2024–2025. Ideas were needed, especially for developing the route network, and there was a desire to create networks outside Finland's borders. Partnerships were sought through the EU's Leader network by contacting several different countries by email. Germany was the only country where project worker Johanna's message was successful, and we were able to choose a destination from among about 10 interested parties.

The area selected was Westliches Weserbergland, about an hour from Hanover and a couple of hours from Hamburg. In hindsight, this was an excellent choice, as our partner was the Leader operator in the area and we were able to see several different Leader-funded projects during our trip. 

Our travel group consisted of ten project group members, both old and new. The group members are villagers or people who work in the area. Kirsi Manninen, Executive Director of the funding organization Kehittämisyhdistys Mansikka ry, also joined us on the trip.

Leader projects, nature experiences, and the story of Pillipiipari – an unforgettable start to your journey

On our first day of travel, we had a full schedule from morning to evening. We visited Hessisch Oldendorf and the Leader projects located there. We saw various sites, from a skate park for young people to an outdoor gym and a community center. We also received a warm welcome from Mayor Tarik Oenelc. Right from the start, there was plenty of laughter and the atmosphere was relaxed.

After the city tour, we headed up into the mountains to the Weserbergland Nature Park and Schillat Höhlen cave. We put on our helmets and took the elevator underground to explore the cave system with a guide. After the cave tour, route manager Hans-Georg Sievers gave us some basic information and statistics about German hikers. The largest group of hikers seems to be women of retirement age. Under Mr. Sievers' guidance, we set off on a brisk 5 km hike, paying particular attention to the signage. The trail descended through a beautiful beech forest to a valley where there was a small restaurant. We heard that the place is popular in the summer and on weekends, as it is easily accessible and quite close to the parking area. Along the route, we could smell wild garlic in places, which we tasted together.

In the evening, we went on an interesting tourist tour of Hamelin led by the Pied Piper himself, and heard the story of the Pied Piper in the form of a tour of the city. At times, the flute played as we went along, and it was great fun.

After touring Hamelin, we drove along a few small bends to a beautiful restaurant at the top of a mountain, which offered magnificent views of the city of Hamelin. The fatigue began to show on the faces of the tour participants. It had been a long but very rewarding day. We slept well that night.

Through villages on electric bikes

On Friday, we hopped on our electric bikes and rode through several small villages for a total distance of 22 km. To the CIyty of Rintel. The bike ride was eye-opening because of the route we took. We discussed aloud how this type of comfortable bike, which is suitable for everyone, would also be good for the sandy roads of Kerkonkoski! On the way, we were impressed by the many rest areas that had been renovated with Leader funding. We were also particularly impressed by a small self-service kiosk in front of a farmhouse, where we could buy coffee and honey, among other things.

Once we arrived in Rinteln, we had lunch in the former town hall, built in the 16th century, where Mayor Andrea Lange gave us a warm welcome with a short speech and gifts. We were all very impressed by the hospitality we experienced during our trip.

After lunch, we went on a guided tour to learn about the history of the town of Rinteln. This time, the tour was more traditional than the previous day's, but it was good to see both. In front of the museum, there was an interesting information box that, when turned, began to tell the history of the town. This was also implemented with the support of Leader.

The magic of moonlight and a touch of history – a series of village tours kicked off on Noitasaari Island

Located near Kiesimä in the Konnevesi waterway, Noitasen Island awoke from its winter slumber on Friday, March 14, 2025, when a group of hikers arrived there for a moonlight hike.

The Kerkonkoski Travel Project working group is organizing village trips open to everyone this year, and the Noitasen moonlight trip was the first in the series. The project working group consists of residents of the Kerkonkoski and Kiesimä areas, and this trip was led mainly by people from Kiesimä. During the event week, a 2 km ice route was driven to the island, allowing visitors to reach Noitase on foot, skis, or snowshoes. Some rushed to the island on snowmobiles or ATVs.

The organizers were nervous about the weather, both in terms of ice conditions and moonlight, but Mother Nature gave us her best. On our way to the island, we enjoyed a magnificent sunset. The sky changed color from orange to light pink to dark purple in a matter of moments. On the way back, the clear sky allowed us to admire the full moon and stars throughout the journey home.

Upon arrival on the island, campfires awaited the hikers, and warm juice, coffee, and freshly baked buns were served at Noitainen's cabin. The winter breeze was chilly, but the cabin was a nice place to warm up.

There were nearly 50 hikers, and for many of them, Noitaseen Island and its history were completely unknown. Irene Pakkanen, who comes from nearby Koipiniemi, told stories about the history of Noitaseen and the surrounding area as the fire crackled and the sausages sizzled. Perhaps the most famous event is the church boat disaster that took place on nearby Murhaluoto, where an entire family drowned on their way to a funeral in 1684. When Irene mentioned Murhaluoto, the clouds parted as if on cue and the full moon rose to illuminate the frozen lake. Another interesting feature of Noitasen is an ancient fishing lure found there, the origin of which is not precisely known. The lure is on display at the Rautalammi Museum.