The cultural heritage routes lead you through the villages and local centres of Taipalsaari, mostly along public roads. Along the way, you will discover places where the area’s history comes alive through stories, landscapes and archaeological discoveries.
Each route has its own map and an information board placed along the way. Additional signs along the routes share fascinating insights into the history of the region and its landmarks.
The routes are easy to explore at your own pace – by bike, by car, or even by water.
The Kirkonkylä–Saimaanharju Route leads you into the heart of Taipalsaari’s settlement history – from Stone Age shoreline sites to Iron Age refuges, and further to the emergence of the ecclesiastical, administrative, and transport centre from the 1500s to the present day.
The Vitsai Route tells the story of an exceptionally long and uninterrupted history of settlement – from Stone Age shorelines to Iron Age sacred sites, the landscapes shaped by slash-and-burn cultivation, and the waterways of Saimaa that once served as important travel routes.
The Levänen Route leads from the shores of Lake Maavesi and its Stone Age dwelling sites to Iron Age villages, 19th‑century transport connections, and the vibrant rural cultural landscape of today.
The Rehula Route reveals the history of settlement that developed along Saimaa’s shores and ridges from the Stone Age onward, tracing ancient travel routes, livelihoods, and the extensive village network that evolved over the centuries.
The Vehkataipale Route tells the story of an isthmus shaped by the Ice Age, prehistoric settlement, a key junction of waterways and transport routes, and the canal and defence history of the 20th century.
The Kyläniemi Route brings together the ridge and shoreline formations shaped by the Ice Age, prehistoric dwelling sites, the Suvorov Canal, the Salpa Line, and a unique natural environment.
Rock paintings, the prehistoric pictographs found on cliffs, are an important part of Finland’s cultural heritage. Most of the more than 90 identifiable rock paintings in Finland are located in Eastern and Central Finland. Four rock paintings have been discovered in Taipalsaari. They are located in Valkeisaari, Ruusin Turasalo, Kannuksen linnavuori, and Lintuinvuori.
