Varkaus – an industrial story lives on on the shores of Lake Saimaa
Varkaus
Varkaus is a city that lives and breathes industrial history, arts and culture. The unique industrial architecture is strongly present in the old factory buildings and neighbourhoods.
History lives on in the streets
The best way to experience the history of Varkaus is to walk through the city on the Vaelluksia Vanhassa Varkaudessa (Hiking in Old Varkaus) experience tour route. As you walk through the streets, you can see the traces left by several architects, such as Alvar Aalto. The culturally and historically valuable buildings of Old Varkaus offer a wide range of sights and experiences that will interest tourists. As you walk, you will find yourself at a naive art exhibition, an artist’s house or the wonderful instruments of the Museum of Mechanical Music. And when it’s time to sit down, there are also charming cafés and restaurants along the way.
Varkaus’ new and award-winning Konsti Museum Centre takes you deeper into the stories of Varkaus’ industrial expertise and community, as well as art – while the youngest members of the family enjoy adventures at the Children’s Factory.
Nature in the heart of the city
Varkaus is embraced by the beautiful Lake Saimaa, whose experiences are right at your doorstep. Hertunranta and Itsenäisyydenpuisto lead along the shoreline to the Kämärin outdoor recreation area and from there across bridges to the Taipale Canal, where time flies by as you watch boats and ships glide through the locks.
Kämäri is a green outdoor recreation area and nature reserve in the city centre, where the extremely endangered Saimaa lake salmon spawns and Varkaus’s namesake animal, the otter, swims. An easy path leads you through deciduous trees and over wooden bridges to admire the rapids of the historic Ämmäkoski. Ämmäkoski is also a unique fishing destination, where Finland’s largest natural bypass channel for migratory fish has been completed.
Nature adventures continue a short distance from the centre on the nature trails and in the caves of Kangaslammi and Harjuranta.
Wonderfully unique
Today, Varkaus is a developing, competitive, environmentally conscious and international high-tech city. It is easy to visit us, as the city is crossed by highways 5 and 23.
There are many unique shops and service companies around the city, not least on the boulevard-like Kauppakatu. Don’t forget the guided nature experiences, cruises and rental equipment that allow you to experience the city and its surroundings from a whole new perspective.
Fall in love with Varkaus
How to get there
Varkaus is located in northern Saimaa, in the heart of Savo, at the intersection of two motorways.
Varkaus is easy to reach by car, inviting you to enjoy its relaxed way of life. Let the unique character of Varkaus surprise you and come enjoy your stay with us.
Check out other towns in the Saimaa region
Visit Lake Saimaa is an association founded by the cities in the Lake Saimaa region, promoting regional cooperation from a tourism perspective.