The foreign partners of the current 2019–2021 international project are the LEADER action group in the Causeway coastal area of Northern Ireland and LEADER action groups in the Kotka region and in the South Karelia region in Imatra in Finland.
Northern Ireland
The LAG area is most famous for its coastline and iconic visitor attractions for example:
- Giants Causeway – A UNESCO World Heritage Site;
- Bushmills Distillery – Makers of world famous brand of Whisky;
- Dark Hedges – “Game of Thrones” set;
- Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge;
- Blue Flag beaches;
- world-class golf courses;
- Mussenden Temple;
- Dunluce Castle.
Finland
History, culture, and the beauty of Finnish nature in South Kymenlaakso, South-Eastern Finland
As I walk among the old red-brick factory buildings in the historical Stockfors factory site, I can imagine what the life of the labourer was like in the early 20th century Finland. As I head for the art event that is arranged annually on the factory site, I see that modern times have already got a grip of the area. From among people I continue my journey to the bosom of nature, to the Valkmusa National Park, where I can admire Finnish marsh landscapes. The scent of marsh vegetation and the quiet relaxes me. I go on towards the Siikakoski Rapids in Kotka, where the sounds of nature change into the roar and rumble of the rapids. I see fishermen along the rapids. In the course of history, these rapids have been fished by Czar Alexander III of Russia and his family as well as the monks who lived at Siikakoski in the late 18th century. My journey continues towards the coast of Kotka. I listen to the rumble of the sea and enjoy the seascape opening up from the Santalahti cliffs. I feel like continuing my journey to the Kaunissaari Island on the Gulf of Finland. On Kaunissaari I enjoy the people’s friendliness, the foods and the beautiful nature, and I acquaint myself with islander culture at the Islander Museum. This is a fine place to spend the night and continue the journey the next day.
Woken up by birdsong, I walk past old fishermen’s houses, heading for the harbour. Having got back to the mainland, I head for Hamina. I climb up to the Siliänvuori observation tower, where the whole Kotka-Hamina region opens up to my view. I decide to spend a bit more time roaming the forest amongst the lakes and ponds. The journey continues along Museum Road, following the shoreline, towards Virolahti. Museum road is part of the Great Coastal Road, also called King’s Road. Along this road, people have journeyed from Turku to Vyborg Castle since the 14th century. I stop at the village of Klamila and head for the harbour, where there’s a market going on. The Klamila harbour served as a haven for gunboats and other vessels during the war. Even Mannerheim, Field Marshal of Finland, has visited the harbour. My hunger for history escalates, and I decide to go on and acquaint myself with the Bunker Museum nearby and the Salpalinja Museum a bit further away in Miehikkälä. I also hear that in Pyterlahti there is an old granite quarry out of which granite has been extracted for the columns of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral and for the monolith of Alexander I in St. Petersburg. My journey in South Kymenlaakso has been unforgettable, and I decide to continue my exploration of Finland in the South Karelia region.
South Karelia – distinctive, diverse, memorable
Powers of nature, hidden treasures, and mystical statues in the bosom of Finnish countryside. As I walk into a grove along the road, I see unbelievable statues and concrete figures as far as the eye can see. Narrow paths lead deeper into a wooded garden, in which I see statues doing yoga, swimming, and marching. They grimace and stare at me. -Hey, did that statue just move as I walked by? That can’t be true – or… can it? My journey along the eastern border continues towards Rautjärvi. I pass by a place where, according to local lore, there is a treasure hidden in the middle of a forest. I hear the locals speaking of the hiding place of the treasure as the Devil’s Church, for the Devil himself is thought to have made a huge cavern for people to worship him. Dare you explore the cavern and find out the unbelievable stories it is hiding in its depths?
I hear the call of the grand Lake Saimaa. I follow it and end up in Ruokolahti. I can’t help noticing some old buildings next to the church, and I wonder what their story is. I step into one of them, and all of a sudden I find myself time-travelling centuries back. I see haymaking, life on the farm, royalty, and centuries of history, with associated artefacts opening up in front of my eyes. Further along, there is dancing and singing in the courtyard area of the old houses. The rejoicing of the locals is something I just have to follow from the yard of the Ruokolahti Culture Café. The waves of Lake Saimaa summon me to the lakeside, and I am struck by the breath-taking beaches and seascapes of Lake Saimaa – would that I never had to leave! However, my itch for the road drives me on. My destination now is Imatra, for I’ve been told that Imatra boasts the most beautiful building in Finland, the castle-like hotel Valtionhotelli. As I arrive at the centre of Imatra, the first thing I see is the formidably powerful Imatrankoski rapids, roaring away in front of my eyes. Lucky me, I was just in time to see the unbelievable Imatra Rapids Show! As I look around to see where the River Vuoksi waters are going, I hit upon a majestic white castle standing proudly on the opposite bank. It’s so beautiful that I realize right away that it must be the Imatran Valtionhotelli! Who’s staying there now, I wonder.
Come have the adventure of your life in South Kymenlaakso and South Karelia and experience Finland’s most beautiful nature and the specialities of our culture:
South Kymenlaakso:
Pyhtää
Kotka & Hamina
Virolahti
Miehikkälä
South Karelia:
Parikkala
Rautjärvi
Ruokolahti
Imatra
