Parppeinvaara Karelian Village

Parppeinvaara is a hill above Ilomantsi in the far east of Finland, set out as a group of buildings covering Karelian culture: a bard's house where kantele players and runo singers perform the sung poetry that collectors drew on when the Kalevala was compiled, an Orthodox tsasouna or prayer house, a hunting and border-history exhibition, and a restaurant serving Karelian food, including the pasties and stews of the region. Ilomantsi is the most Orthodox municipality in Finland and the culture here is different from the Lutheran west. The hill looks out over forest and lakes toward the border, and the whole site is a summer operation.

What you actually see

• The bard's house - kantele playing and sung runo poetry.
• An Orthodox tsasouna - the prayer house of the eastern tradition.
• Karelian food - pasties and stews served at the restaurant.
• Views east over forest - the country toward the border.

When to go

June to August; the village closes outside the summer season. Half a day. Music performances run to a daily schedule. Check before travelling out of season.

Honest expectations

It is open for a short summer season only. Performances are staged for visitors rather than spontaneous. Ilomantsi is remote and public transport is sparse. Some buildings are reconstructions rather than originals.

Nearby

Ilomantsi is west; Patvinsuo lies north.