Luumäki, in the region of South Karelia, is a naturally beautiful municipality known for its lively village activities and interesting military historical attractions.
On your holiday in Luumäki, visit the Taavetti fortress and tour the most significant attractions in the region along a route known as Independence Way (Itsenäisyydentie), which will be inaugurated to celebrate Finland’s centenary. You will pass by artillery batteries from World War I and war memorials.
Like many small Finnish municipalities, Luumäki’s strengths do not lie in its village centres, so Luumäki is not the place to take a city break. However, fans of military history will find plenty of interest in Luumäki, as well as attractions related to different phases in Finland’s history.
A weekend break in Luumäki should definitely include a visit to the Taavetti fortress, located in the bastion fortress right in the centre of Luumäki. Take a guided tour or just a walk around the fortress, which was built at the end of the 18th century. The Fortress and Local History Museum are open in June and July.
After the battles of the Winter War, a major project known as the Salpa Line began in Finland, during which about 750 miles of defences were built along the country’s eastern border. It is easy to plan an interesting and cheap trip to Luumäki – visit the surviving Salpa Line defences along National Road 6. At the same time, it is worth visiting Lusikkovuori cave, which was originally quarried to provide storage and accommodation for reservists.
Luumäki is proud of its village communities. In the summer, visitors should tour the village trails and visit local markets. Enjoy the beautiful scenery in the villages, and take in the Tolpankangas Nature Trail. There are other interesting things to see in the villages – the village known as Kirkonseutu is home to Luumäki Church, which was designed by C. L. Engel. While touring the villages, stop off at President Svinhufvud's home, which is now a museum in Kotkaniemi.
Luumäki’s interesting tourist attractions make the municipality definitely worth a visit. In the summer, visitors can also participate in fun events such as the Vallijamit music event or the Marttila village market. National Road 6 winds along Salppausselkä ridge through Luumäki, making the municipality a great place to visit for people travelling by road in eastern Finland.
