recommended route
The Green Gold Culture road
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Punkaharjun harjualuePhoto: Jussi Silvennoinen / Punkaharju, Visit Saimaa
Be brave and step across the boundary into the forest, for the forest tells a story. About you, me and the time before us. A journey into the past, present and also into our future starts in the forest.
There are sixteen fascinating sites along the Green Gold Culture Road that introduce visitors to Finnish forest culture and history as well as the relationship between Finnish people and the forest. The sites along the route form an interesting mixture of cultural and natural environments. You can also explore the surrounding nature on foot or by bike at many of the sites.
The sites along Green Gold Culture Road:
Vihantasalmi
Miekankoski
Mäntyharju village
Pien-Toijola Open-Air Museum
Astuvansalmi rock paintings
Lietvesi scenic route
Puumala archipelago
Syrjäsalmi rock paintings
Karjulanmäki stone church
Pisamalahti hill fort
Sulkava rowing race
Vilkaharju
Savonlinna
Shipping in Savonlinna
Punkaharju national landscape
Putikko
Author’s recommendation
Learn more about the relationship between the forest and people in Southern Savo with the Green Gold Culture Road audio story! The audio story takes you on a journey of 250 kilometres and thousands of years, and combines the turning points of local forest culture with folk tales of forest mysticism from the Finnish Literature Society archives.
The story is available through the free Glopas app and can be listened to while driving or riding a bike. The story starts to play automatically, offering listeners new perspectives on their personal relationship with the forest and the highlights of the Green Gold Culture Road. You can also listen to the stories one by one for each site, so it does not matter if you do not start listening to them from the start of the route.
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Track types
Rest stops
Miekankoski Café and the Museum of Log FloatingMakasiinin Puoti & Kahvila
Tertti Manor
Ollinmäki Wine Farm
Crepes in the Archipelago of Puumala, Lake Saimaa
Pistohiekka Resort
Sahanlahti Resort
Niinipuu
Tiittalan kartanon rantamakasiini
Tiittala manor
Kalliolinna crêpe café
Hotelli Punkaharju
Safety information
The route mainly follows small roads, which have less traffic than main roads. Keep in mind, however, that the roads are twisty and narrow, so stay alert at all times. Sections of the roads may be in poor condition.
There are also sections that are popular with cyclists, so please pay attention to them.
Tips and hints
We recommend that you read about the natural environments along the route in advance. Some of the sites are located a short hike away from the road, while some sites, such as the Astuvansalmi rock paintings, can also be accessed by water.
The Green Gold Culture Road passes sites that are especially wonderful in summer. If you are travelling during the high season, it is advisable to book your accommodation and make restaurant reservations in advance. It's a good idea to allow plenty of time for the sites and businesses along the route to ensure a leisurely experience.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
If you begin your journey from Mäntyharju, the route starts along Highway 5 in Vihantasalmi. You then follow smaller roads through Miekankoski to Mäntyharju village. Head towards Ristiina from the village. First you’ll travel along smaller roads, but just before Ristiina you'll be on Highway 13/15. You will not stay on the busier road for long, though, as you’ll soon take a turn towards Ristiina and continue towards Pien-Toijola.
From Pien-Toijola, the journey continues towards Hurissalo, and the small road again turns into a bigger road – Highway 62. Highway 62 (also known as Route 62 tourist route) takes you towards Puumala. From Puumala, you head to Sulkava but you take the Kietävälä ferry to go through the island of Partala. You are then back on smaller roads again.
The route continues from Sulkava towards Kallislahti, where you get on Highway 14 and head towards Savonlinna, where you’ll also visit the port of Savonlinna. You can then travel from Savonlinna to Punkaharju, where a narrow road on the esker briefly offers a nice break from main roads. Just a few kilometres after Punkaharju you’ll turn onto some smaller roads for a while until you reach the end of the route at Putikko.
The journey is about 250 kilometres in total, and you can do the route in either direction.
The journey is mainly made on smaller roads. You only travel on main roads for a short while before Ristiina (Highway 13/15) and from Hurissalo to Puumala (Highway 62). After Sulkava, the journey from Kallislahti to the end runs mainly on Highway 14, with only a few turns off the road.
Note
Getting there
You can keep on the Green Gold Culture Road by following the brown signs.Parking
Some of the nature sites along the Green Gold Culture Road have very few parking spaces. However, parking is always free of charge. Read more about parking in the site descriptions.Coordinates
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- 52 Waypoints
- 52 Waypoints
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