The Renfors Route, 3-10 km Kajaani Finland

The round is marked anticlockwise with signposts.

Directly at the Hotel Scandic Kajanus you walk through an underpass, after which you continue through a small forest. On the left you can always catch a glimpse of the river. Later, the forest clears and the castle ruins come into view. At this part of the river numerous ducks and swans gather in winter and spring. After crossing the bridge road that leads over the castle ruins, you get to the first sight: the tar canal . An information board tells the story of this structure which is unique in Finland. Follow the signs through the residential area of ​​Karolineburg, which owes its name to the manor house Hotel Karolineburg, which we pass on the right side. After a while, the path runs next to Kajaani cemetery and leads us back to the river. We cross it on a pontoon bridge, which forms at one point a lifting bridge, that allows also larger ships to pass through. On the other side of the river, we find ourselves on the site of the former paper mill - today Renfor's industrial park. We walk back along the road. To the right we see Kaupunkilampi - the city pond. Not long and we turn left again on a gravel path that leads us directly to the river. One of the most scenic sections lies in front of us. We have a magnificent view of the pier of the steamboat "Kouta". During summer you will find a summer terrace here that invites you to linger. The next steep but short climb brings us to the back of the municipal library building. From here we pass the restaurant Sirius an reach the statue of Elias Lönnrot.

We pass underneath the bridge road and are already standing in front of the next important sight, the castle ruin. It is worth taking your time to explore the ruins. In the river park we continue walking upstream, leaving the city center and the statue of the writer Eino Leino to the right. (From here you can directly return to the starting point Hotel Scandic Kajanus.)

After crossing the main road we find ourselves on the market place, the pirate ship children's playground on our left, immediately followed by city founder Pietari Brahe in the form of a statue. We follow the path along the river for a long time. We leave the shopping center Prisma to the right and enter the residential area "Onnela" (home of luck). The grounds were planned and built in 2001 on the occasion of the national housing fair. Here you find also the city beach with diving tower. After that it goes on paved paths once again across the river. Shortly after the first bridge we cross a second, smaller one, over the so-called hunger canal (nälkäkanava). Built in the days of famine 1867-68, it allowed the shipping of tar to Oulu.

From here we start our way back. Along the road it goes through the districts Kätönlahti and Kuurna back to the hotel. Before we get there, the path leads back to a gravel path and to the river. On the right you see the Kaukametsä Convention Center and the newly built Kaukavesi Water Fitness Centre. Directly behind is our starting point where the round tour finishes.