FORGET LAPLAND! Why EVERYONE Should Visit FINLAND’S LAKE DISTRICT 🇫🇮 (Punkaharju)

Рет қаралды 10,279

Күн бұрын

Continuing my road trip in Finland’s lake district I visit the world’s largest wooden church in Kerimäki & another magnificent ridge road through the vast lakelands of Punkaharju. Forget Lapland & travel here!
🇫🇮 See more of my travel vlogs from Finland here → bit.ly/mwt_finland
Way out in Finland’s magnificent east, amongst the lakes and forests of Finnish Lakeland is the largest wooden church in the world - the yellow 19th century Kerimäki Church (Kerimäen Kirkko). I stopped by to take a walk around it and ended up flying my drone too. From up in the air I got some delightful views of the surrounding landscape, which included Lake Puruvesi just a kilometre away.
Back on the road I headed towards another contender for Finland’s most spectacular driving route - the Punkaharju ridge road that weaves its way along a narrow strip of land and is lined with gorgeous tall trees whose greenery compliments the blue of the lakes perfectly.
Sections of the Punkaharju are on the waterline whilst other parts snake up to reveal breathtaking viewpoints of the encompassing environment. The key one being Runeberg's Mound (Runebergin Kumpu) which has been identified as the ridge road's highest point. The Punkaharju ridge road is a must visit if you’re in the east of Finland - during my visit there was barely another soul in sight. I felt like I had it all to myself.
Whilst in the Punkaharju area there’s lots of other places to visit too. I saw Lusto (Suomen Metsämuseo Lusto) which is the Finnish Forest Museum and Kuikonniemi Fortress (Kuikonniemen Linnoitus) which is part of Finland’s long and impressive series of defensive fortifications called the Salpa Line.
Before driving another 2.5 hours to my next destination I went in search of Finland’s Tallest Tree (Suomen Pisin Puu) which reportedly stands at 47.3 metres and is just a few minutes from the ridge road of Punkaharju.
📖 CHAPTERS:
📖 00:00 Intro
📖 01:14 Largest Wooden Church in the World (Kerimäki Church)
📖 02:30 How Expensive is Finland?
📖 03:30 Driving Finland’s Punkaharju Ridge Road
📖 05:31 Kuikonniemi Fortress (Salpa Line) & Lusto
📖 06:52 The Search for Finland’s Tallest Tree
More Info
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🎙️ Feel free to ask any questions! All FEEDBACK and COMMENTS welcome!!
📷 Connect with me on INSTAGRAM → bit.ly/mwt_instagram
🇫🇮 See all my FINLAND videos → bit.ly/mwt_finland
🇫🇮 See more from my Finnish Lakeland road trip → bit.ly/mwt_finnishlakeland
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Soundtrack
🎵 I’m Walking Home by Consolate feat. Natalie
🎵 Eternal Sunshine by Rymdklang Soundtracks
🎵 We’re Taking Off by Wildflowers
🎵
🎵 Music by Epidemic Sound. Get a FREE month here → bit.ly/2LB53FZ

Пікірлер: 145

@druidofthefang 11 күн бұрын

It is very unusual for a visitor to go to these "normal" places in Finland. It has been fun to watch so far.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Glad you're enjoying the trip, I can't help but to be amazed by how few people there are about. I like finding these less touristy places away from the crowds, they're always fun to explore. Thanks for watching.

@turpasauna 12 күн бұрын

Absolutely. The nature is most gorgeous, people friendly and the pace of life slower.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Yes indeed, sometimes it's nice to slow down a bit and enjoy the scenery.

@BeginningsAndPaths 12 күн бұрын

Beautiful area with gorgeous scenery! I'm always amazed by the combination of forest and water. Thanks for sharing 🙏😊 ~Philip

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Me too! Such a mysterious sight when you look into so many trees and so much water. Love it!

@oh2mp 12 күн бұрын

Nice video again! It was a pity that Kerimäki church was closed. Did you know that there are 27 places that have been defined as national landscapes of Finland? Punkaharju is unsurprisingly one of them, but you have already seen several others too. You may remember that before changing to Euro in 2002 Finland had markka as its currency. On the backside of 500 FIM banknote of the last series used there was a drawing of Punkaharju.

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

Thank you! I knew that Punkaharju is a national landscape but didn't realise there are 27 of them, I will have to see how many I made it to by the end of the trip. Interesting that is was on the 500 bank note, totally understandable as it's a glorious place. I just can't believe that there's not more people there enjoying the scenery.

@Juhito 11 күн бұрын

Please drink tap-water! Perfectly safe and save money 🙂

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Thank you, in hindsight I should have filled up my water bottles from the tap. Definitely a money saver.

@tosijjaan 4 күн бұрын

Better tasting than store water

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

And definitely cheaper!

@robertwilkinson8421 12 күн бұрын

I'm really enjoying following your Travels through Finland. Thanks for sharing.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Thanks so much for tuning in, I'm really pleased you're enjoying my travels. I'm having a blast in Finland & can't wait to share the rest of the trip.

@KarpoKekkonen 12 күн бұрын

Great to see some familiar sights.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Cool, I take it you're from these parts?

@yoretabio4537 12 күн бұрын

So true. As Finn I agree

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

Thank you! I was trying to be creative with the title of this one 😃

@butterflies655 10 күн бұрын

Visit Pulkkilanharju. It is as nice. Some ppl think it is the most beautiful scenery in Finland.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Thanks for mentioning Pulkkilanharju, a few others have said the same thing - I Googled it and looks wonderful. Definitely interested in visiting it at some point, some many incredible driving routes in Finnish Lakeland.

@katalaurikainen8941 4 күн бұрын

Thank you for stepping out of the beaten path. Great video of Finland.

@MattWhitingsEurope 4 күн бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 😃

@artsi897 12 күн бұрын

Great video.👍🇫🇮👍

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it. 👍

@MfliInfomainpage 3 күн бұрын

Agree as a native finn. The lake district as well as the archipelago are imo among the most beautiful places to visit.

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

Thanks, glad you think so. I came to realise that everyone has heard of Helsinki and Lapland but hardly anyone I spoke to (outside of Finland) had head of Finnish Lakeland. Such an amazing place!

@0mgz0mg 11 күн бұрын

Oh man. The tallest tree sure would be a long moment of admirarion for me.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

I do wonder how they know that for sure. I mean there must be millions of trees in Finland and many of them in the middle of nowhere, they can't measure them all!

@TommiSRP 6 күн бұрын

Glad youu made it to the Harjutie! It is magnificent!

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Great day, I really enjoyed the experience! I just can't believe how quiet it was.

@petrihakkinen2336 12 күн бұрын

Those larches are planted for ship masts. Those are very durable trees in that purpose

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

That makes sense, I was wondering earlier how they know it's the tallest tree in Finland without measuring all of them. 🤓

@petrihakkinen2336 6 күн бұрын

@@MattWhitingsEurope here is allways going forest invention. Whole land is randomly put in test areas and those been measured. And lot of forest workers who report big trees.

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

I see. Thanks for the info!

@itsgoodiewoodie 11 күн бұрын

You are doing amazing work. I love these scenes.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Thank you, makes my day to hear comments like that. Glad you're enjoying my journey! 😄

@magister2123 11 күн бұрын

My childhood scenery. Thx! 😊

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Glad I could bring back a few good memories for you - I very much enjoyed my day! Wonderful place!

@Hongaars1969 12 күн бұрын

Hello Matt. How are you? I arrived back in Dubrovnik on Wednesday (from Pretoria where I’d been the previous 11 weeks). Here at club Med, the temperatures have been soaring. On Friday we already had the first major power outage. Today, a scrub fire up the hill behind Dubrovnik. The point of the above ramble is that visiting places like Finland are more and more appealing. (In fact in yesterday’s Times travel section there were 25 cool climate summer holiday recommendations and one of them was the lake region in Finland…I’m sure The Times’ writer borrowed from your uploads). The lighting and the long shadows in your videos augment the scenery. Glad you were able to recover from the knock on your head and continue to enjoy your journey. Until next week Zoltán

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

Thank you Zoltán, I've heard about the extreme heat and power outages on the news - must be crazy at the moment out there. Hope you've got the air conditioning cranked up. Yes it does sound like the travel correspondent for the Times has been watching - I can only hope haha. Thanks for the comment, glad you;'re continuing to enjoy the videos.

@yoretabio4537 12 күн бұрын

I have visited Punkarock rock festivals in Punkaharju as teen at Midsummers 1979-83. Seen Motörhead and Bad Manners there, among many other bands.

@oh2mp 12 күн бұрын

I was a little too young that time but from about 1984 onwards I went many many times to Huviniemi of Punkaharju and saw many famous bands of the time there :)

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

Wow sounds incredible, what a setting for it!

@WITYTRAVELS 12 күн бұрын

Glad you didn't let a little bloody head ruin your trip. Fanta is the most important supply for the road trip! That is an impressive tree!

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

I think it was all the sugar in the Fanta that kept me going on this trip! The show must go on!!

@td6460 6 күн бұрын

Good year for you to pick touring Finland, we haven't had a summer like this in ages.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

There's some crazy weather across Europe at the moment! Thanks for watching 😀

@ItsGunkku 11 күн бұрын

i love ur videos

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Thanks so much, really appreciate you saying! Hope all is well in Joensuu!

@Peder7berg Күн бұрын

I will be going there in just a couple of weeks! Thanks for the tips! :)

@MattWhitingsEurope 13 сағат бұрын

Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching.

@SepyLi Сағат бұрын

Nice to see a tourist outside of Helsinki, heh. The West coast also has some nice smaller places, like the old town of Rauma, which is a Unesco site.

@TommiSRP 6 күн бұрын

About the food prices in Finland: - There are 3 main chains of grocery stores in Finland: S-Ryhmä, Kesko and LIDL - S-Ryhmä has the following stores: S-Market, Sale, Prisma - Depending on location these have different prices, Prisma being the cheapest and largest - Kesko usually has the following stores: K-Market, K-Supermarket and K-Citymarket - Again, depending on location these have different prices - LIDL is a germany owned company - They sell off-brand copies of products S-Ryhmä and Kesko stores hold - Generally the cheapest with lower quality Kesko stores are regarded as the most expensive ones, S-Ryhmä pretty much has the best value for money and LIDL is for those who want the cheapest stuff!

@td6460 6 күн бұрын

Lidl is not lower quality... the other stores are notoriously overpriced and are known for price fixing, especially before Lidl.

@TommiSRP 6 күн бұрын

@@td6460 I personally disagree. The offbrand copies are worse in taste and nutritional values. Some things like vegetables are worth buying from LIDL though! 😊😊

@td6460 6 күн бұрын

@@TommiSRP That's called your own subjective opinion. Lidl products are not of lower quality. They win or rank highly in various tests all the time.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Thanks for the information. Very interesting! The shopping did cost a bit more than I thought so was surprised.

@jugcage7634 7 күн бұрын

Thanks, these are always an interesting watch.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Glad you like them! Really enjoying my trip to Finland and am still amazed by how quiet the lake district is.

@GugureSux 3 күн бұрын

Lovely, gorgeous footage! Little protip: Finnish language is pronounced very similar to Latin. All letters are always pronounced exactly the same way, each letter is pronounced out loud instead of blurred into one quick sound, and especially consonants are sharp and tactile, best shown with the strong rrrolling R's. The letter "U" is spelled similar to the short wovel sound in the word "put", or the two Os in the word "food". The Finnish "a" is similar to that in the word "car", and the "i" is pretty much the English "ee" sound.

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

Thanks for the info! Very helpful to know. Pronouncing place names can be quite the challenge when travelling - sometimes not even the locals can agree! 😂

@mariamm9460 6 сағат бұрын

Punkaharju i haven't been yet, but been dreaming to visit there, Savonlinna been as my uncle was living there ..thanks Matt for the great video❤😊

@MattWhitingsEurope 4 сағат бұрын

My pleasure 😊 It's a terrific area and I would definitely recommend it! Thanks for watching.

@mariamm9460 2 сағат бұрын

@@MattWhitingsEurope you are the most Welcome Matt😊I would love to visit and enjoy all the places which you showing on videos, so amazing as you are too 😊🇫🇮❤sorry to ask but are you from Scotland, I was visiting Scotland 2022.

@stasacab 11 күн бұрын

I have to agree on that. I have lived and traveled in the lake district for what, like 25 years or something and there is still lot to see and explore. I think it is one of the best places in Finland. OK, my tips for Finland, besides the lake district: Ahvenanmaa/Åland archipelago, coastal cities Hanko and Kaskinen, Hailuoto, some parts of Lapland, old mills of which Fiskars and Billnäs are the most famous.

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Thanks for those suggestions, have just Goggled them and made a note of a few - they look like great spots to stop by. Sounds like you're a real fan of the lakes, I bet over 25 years you've seem plenty of incredible places. The size of the region amazes me, it feels like it's never ending at times!

@TommiSRP 6 күн бұрын

Oooh, I hope you made it to Joensuu, enjoyed some good food, visited the Bunker Museum and enjoyed the lake Pyhäselkä!

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

I'm sad to say that I didn't. I had planned to and researched some of the places you mentioned but unfortunately I ran short of time and something had to give. I was disappointed not to be able to squeeze it in - maybe next time?!

@TommiSRP 6 күн бұрын

@@MattWhitingsEurope Hopefully next time! Beautiful summer city! Did you make it to Koli to see "The National View"?

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

I will leave it a surprise but make sure you tune in next week 😉

@Justusosaa 9 күн бұрын

Hi Matt. I am glad that you presented world’s biggest wooden church. Forgetting Lapland and its free roaming reindeer is impossible. White nights is such an experience, which stay in mind the resto of life! Lapland is something special in Finland. The real Lapland starts from the Arctic Circle to the North. The area is wide and it hides many awesome surprises. Your idea to forget Lapland is mission impossible now and later. Happy travel. Matti

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

That church was humongous, it made me feel so small standing next to it. Fair point about Lapland, I think I always associate it with Father Christmas and sledging through the snow - sounds like there's a lot more to Lapland than that. Perhaps I should consider it for another road trip sometime, anywhere in particular you would recommend - maybe some interesting places off the beaten track?

@i7Qp4rQ 4 күн бұрын

The thing about Lapland is also that it has the only "mountains" of Finland. Tunturi/ tundra up to 550m ish vertical relief. Compared to max 250m of south, that have forests on their tops. They are not much compared to anywhere else around the world, but they hold unique spot for us. They aren't jagged like mountains usually are, but gentle and with spacious views, often some 200kms in a direction. Yeah I'm from Lapland, but I think s-finland has its own fine things as well.

@MattWhitingsEurope 4 күн бұрын

@@i7Qp4rQ Thanks for the info, what's the weather like up there in Lapland during the summer? Do you have snow on those mountains and hills during July/August? It does sound like a cool area and worthy of a road trip some day.

@Justusosaa 4 күн бұрын

@@i7Qp4rQ Thx. Koli is my favorite in the south.

@i7Qp4rQ 4 күн бұрын

@MattWhitingsEurope Lapland is the largest area in Finland, so it depends quite a bit. Kilpisjärvi region is special bco. it is the highest village, nearly half km from sea level. Also we have a saying: "years aren't brothers", one year its cold, the next rains, then is windy, then it's lots of mosquitoes, and then finally it's a sunny one, 2018 was very warm. 2020 march was one of the snowiest. Snows usually melt everywhere, but there are spots were they stay sometimes over the summer, specially at the highest region near Halti 1324m (1365). Southernmost spots of summersnows may be around east Lapland's polarcircle on highest tunturis. Sometimes it even snows a bit during summer months. For a tourist from abroad it probably is other things they may enjoy here more, like the midnightsun or reindeers. Personally I like hiking in national parks or other untouched forests, usually they are around those tunturis /tundra.

@Randomizer939 12 күн бұрын

Yay, my sister got married in the smaller section of the largest 😂 (1:56 on the right in the woods)

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

That's cool. You would need to know a lot of people to fill the main church! Congrats to your sister.

@wantsomerye5537 12 күн бұрын

Two and a quarter-hour drive north.. Koli National Park?

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Great guess but nope 😐

@talvetar3385 3 күн бұрын

Definitely, visit Savonlinna and Punkaharju. Can be reached easily by train. Go To Forest museum Lusto and artistichouse Aseman taidelaituri. And eat local high quality food, fish and bison Burger.

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

Except for the first day I don't think I actually stopped in any restaurants for dinner or lunch, mainly due to time but also some of the places were so quiet nothing was open! I was pretty much always arriving late so likely missing the opening times. What's a bison burger like, don't think I've ever tried one of those?

@talvetar3385 2 күн бұрын

@@MattWhitingsEurope buffalos. 😁Organic ones on this area.

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

@talvetar3385 🙃

@maritaulmanen8793 4 күн бұрын

❤❤❤ kiitos

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching! 😀

@Juissimies84 12 күн бұрын

Another entertaining video. Thank you for this. May i say one CON in my books? Mostly during scenery shots where music plays the music is quite loud compared to rest of video. This is only small improvement (imo). Other than that content is top notch! narrative is very interesting, calm and clear. Very pleasent experience overall. Now i´m of to sauna😌.

@XGD5layer 10 күн бұрын

On my device the music is equally loud to when he's just speaking

@Juissimies84 10 күн бұрын

@@XGD5layer Rewatched the intro and still keeping my statement. Could be my 10"/500W subwoofer and 7.1 setup that likes to go nuts. It´s still not a dealbreaker what comes to Matt´s videos. Don´t get me wrong :).

@toinenosoite3173 9 күн бұрын

@@Juissimies84 You are right in keeping to your first opinion, as there is a clear difference in the music volume between speaking and other parts. Not that I think it is too loud in the non-speaking parts, but it is imo getting someshat close.

@Juissimies84 6 күн бұрын

@@toinenosoite3173 Fair enought 👍

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

Thank you for the constructive feedback, it's always good to hear how people think I could improve the videos. I do actually make a slight adjustment on the music tracks I use, lowering the decibel level a couple of notches. Maybe I will try another notch of two. Can I ask how you are watching? TV. computer, phone? Thanks again and I'm pleased to hear you're enjoying the content.

@Pyhantaakka 6 күн бұрын

The disappointment when you find that hot rods are not actually hot. 🤭

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

It shouldn't be allowed! 😂

@XIKaMuIX 4 күн бұрын

Not sure if its for you but you could attend "lavatanssit" in some location. If you know any dances it could be fun for you

@MattWhitingsEurope 4 күн бұрын

Sound like it would be a really authentic experience. I'd certainly like to see it!

@user-ld6fy2rp3p 10 күн бұрын

😊

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

😃

@talvetar3385 3 күн бұрын

You can reach Lusto by train. So these places are not In the Forest.

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

The Forest Museum is not in a forest?

@talvetar3385 2 күн бұрын

@@MattWhitingsEurope I mean it is not In the Forest. It is one minute from railwaystation. You drive but most of the travellers use public transport.

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

@@talvetar3385 Yeah I see. Very convenient, I didn’t realise there was a train station so close.

@talvetar3385 3 күн бұрын

Pun - ka - harrr- yu.

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

Thank you, that's very useful. Will reference that in the future if I talk about the place!

@nigelwatson2750 11 күн бұрын

You need to buy some protein

@MattWhitingsEurope 6 күн бұрын

Are you selling protein by any chance?

@nigelwatson2750 5 күн бұрын

@@MattWhitingsEurope No, but all you got was processed carbs

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

Fair point but I was aiming at bits that would keep for a while without refrigeration.

@nigelwatson2750 4 күн бұрын

@@MattWhitingsEurope No problem, Matt. And thanks for doing your videos on Finland. Most Brits know nothing about this amazing country apart from dial a cliche lies pushed by the BBC and the rest of the MSM. Your supermarket shop will have surprised many Brits because they have been taught to believe that Finland is super expensive, when it is not. Do you have a Finnish wife? Do you live in Finland?

@MattWhitingsEurope 2 күн бұрын

Thanks Nigel, no I don't have any relations in Finland I was just visiting as a tourist. Exploring a part of Europe I didn't previously know much about. Thanks for watching, I hope you're enjoying the trip!

@TheRus13 12 күн бұрын

The main thing is to learn to pronounce Finnish names :)

@itseperkele181 11 күн бұрын

Nah, the main thing is to enjoy nature.

@cinnamontea326 11 күн бұрын

Rally Finnish has it charms

@maariatamminen454 11 күн бұрын

The nature is NUMBER 1 ❤ And a great roadtrip, thank you for that! 🙏 Pronanciation is really a secondary thing when enjoying Finland's nature and peaceful athmosphere❤❤❤

@MattWhitingsEurope 5 күн бұрын

I do try but when you visit so many different places it can be hard. Sometimes there's different information online and there doesn't appear to be any agreement towards a particular pronunciation.

@noneofyourbusiness4830 3 күн бұрын

At least reading Finnish is straightforward, one letter, one sound. Not like English or French.

@TheRus13 12 күн бұрын

Первый ! :)

@Juissimies84 12 күн бұрын

...to fall in ukraine? haha

@td6460 6 күн бұрын

@@Juissimies84 Voitko kehari jättää tommoset botti-tason kommentit semmosiin videoihin, mihin ne kuuluu?

@Juissimies84 6 күн бұрын

@@td6460 Tuolla tavalla pyydettäessä, en.