Gateway to the Sea of Bothnia

Luvia
Gateway to the Sea of Bothnia
Pori 19 km
Turku 122 km
Tampere 130 km
Hämeenlinna 198 km
Jyväskylä 272 km
Helsinki 247 km
Vaasa 212 km
WELCOME!
www.luvia.fi
Welcome to this old seafaring parish, where the
timeless scents of tar, linseed oil and hemp ropes
still linger in the air. Back in the day, thanks to its
easy access to the open sea, Luvia enjoyed global
connections to faraway lands, reached by way of its
merchant shipping activities. The first Luvian sailing
ships are known to have braved the waves from
our shoreside shipyards already 600 years ago. All
this has had a significant influence on the wellbeing of our time, and of course to this day remains
a valuable part of our cultural heritage, generating the character of the municipality. Readers of
the “Satakunta” newspaper in 1877 would wonder
that Luvians spoke only of their ships, without even
a mention of farming or cattle rearing. The long
years of shipbuilding were proof that Luvians were
entrepreneurial, daring and forward-thinking people. The building of the galleas Ihana has restored
something of the pride of those times.
Whereas in past centuries the Luvians’ maritime
skills were the source of food and welfare, today
business life is something completely different .The
Inhabitants: 3360
Municipal tax: 20.5%
Area approx. 861.2m2
of which
land approx. 169.1 m2
sea approx. 692.2 m2
Summer cottages 1 359
municipality is home to many and varied branches of
business, including horse-riding schools, transport
companies, earth moving firms, various branches of
the service industry, builders, repair shops, bookkeeping offices, boat builders, manufacturers of
sauna supplies, master handicraftsmen and women,
design offices, plastic and metal processing, bus and
coach transport, and at the top of the list are one
of the country’s largest privately-owned sawmills,
and Northern Europe’s biggest manufacturer of air
heating equipment. Everything a small municipality
needs to consolidate itself.
This parish is well worth a visit. Step inside the
library, for example, with its beautiful architecture and spacious interior, where the visitor can
breathe easy. I am sure that you will find much
more of interest here, in our authentic, rural parish, where the spirit of “friskis myätäses”, the local
slogan which can be translated as “on a fresh tailwind”, prevails.
LUVIA.fi
Kari Ojalahti, Municipal Manager
The Village Lane
Luvia kirkonkylä, the “church village” of Luvia, has preserved its traditional character. As you
wend your way along Kirkkotie (church road) through the centre of the village, you pass the old
library, the church, chapel and school. The kindergarten and new library are more recent additions to the local architecture. In the centre of the village you will find the municipal offices, shops,
banks, health centre, hairdressers, restaurants and cafés. Pop along to the Thursday market (also
Tuesdays and Saturdays in the summer) for fresh, local produce and souvenirs.The
village hall,Tasala, co-owned by a few local organisations, graces the top of the
hill. The idyllic museum of local culture and history lies on the opposite side
of the road, and the community hall of Wellamo is a little further on.
The village lane
is unspoilt countryside. Places of architectural
heritage along its entire length.
Luvia museum of local culture and
history exhibits rustic buildings, seafaring and
seal-fishing items. Open June-August on Mondays from 6.00-8.00 pm. Theme evenings and
work demonstrations. Address: Myllytie 3
Sandstone church
Designed by Josef Stenbäck, built 1908-1910
Open from June-August, weekdays from 12.006.00 pm. Points of interest include “Luvia Madonna” a mediaeval wooden sculpture
Address: Kirkkotie 14
The library
whose architecture draws upon Luvia’s closeness to the sea, was designed by Juhani Puukka,
of Suunnittelutoimisto Insar Oy design office
in 2009. Open from Monday-Friday. Address:
Lukkarilantie 4. For more information visit LUVIA.fi
Nature and tranquility
in the archipelago
With the increasing stress of our everyday life,
we tend to appreciate peace and quiet more and
more. In Luvia’s outer archipelago the only sounds
that dominate are the sounds of nature. You can
escape the hubbub and enjoy the serenity of these
surroundings.
The borders of the silent, protected area of Natura
2000 runs around the island of Säppi and Luvia’s
outer archipelago. Being protected, the area is difficult to negotiate by boat, which is why there is
not so much human activity compared to other
expanses of the Satakunta coast.
Rauma and Pori, as well as the municipalities of Pyhäranta, Eurajoki and Luvia, lie along its length. The
park has an area of 912 km2, of which 15km2 is
land. Ninety-eight percent of the Sea of Bothnia
National Park is under water..
Säppi lighthouse
The Sea of Bothnia National Park, located along
Finland’s south-western coast, was established in
2011. It stretches for about 150 kilometres from
south to north, through eight municipalities, from
Kustavi to Merikarvia. The towns of Uusikaupunki,
The lighthouse was designed by the architect Axel
Hampus Dahlström, and was completed in 1873.
Säppi lighthouse island is approximately 150 hectares in size, situated in the municipality of Luvia
on the Satakunta coast, on the edge of the Sea of
Bothnia at 61˚29’N, 21˚21’E. At a distance from the
mainland of five and a half kilometres, the island
is part of the Sea of Bothnia National Park, and
home to the rare mouflon sheep. Being an isolated,
wooded island, Säppi attracts an abundance of migratory birds, and is well known as a good springtime location for bird watching.
SATAKUNNANLINNUT.fi
SAPINMAJAKKA.com
www.luvia.fi
The Sea of Bothnia
One way of becoming familiar with Luvia’s culture,
history and countryside is by bike. There are three
sign-posted cycle routes in Luvia: a culture route,
a so-called bivouacs and countryside route, and a
tour of the villages.
On the go in Luvia
Founded in 1982, Luvian Kiekko is an ice hockey
and ringette club. Luvian Kiekko invests heavily in
the development of ice sports. The women’s LuKi
ringette team have achieved great success in recent years.
The purpose of Luvian Veto sports club is to steer
youngsters towards healthy and diversified physical exercise. The club’s objective is to increase and
develop exercise within the family. Luvian Veto provides opportunities for football, skiing, athletics and
other fitness training in many shapes and forms.
Facilities like the ice hall, artificial turf pitch with
athletics track and field, skate park, sawdust running tracks and LuviGym, the brand new modern
gym, invite you to exercise and keep fit.The ice hall
is used both by various clubs and by other active
ice sports enthusiasts. Every Sunday the ice hall is
open to all from 5-6 pm, after which you can enjoy
a coffee in the upstairs café, which looks on to the
rink below.
The horseriding centre includes Luvia horseriding school with manège, run by entrepreneurs, and
full-board stables and Luvia Horseriders’ (Luvian
Ratsastajat) own riding area with associated activities. The café/pizzeria in the manège serves riders
and visitors alike.
An unforgettable experience
Sailing on the ”Ihana” Galleas
www.luvia.fi
The Ihana galleas is the tour de force of Satakunta.
The ship is built of wood, honouring traditional
building techniques, and was inspired by Luvia’s
shipbuilding traditions. It took six years, and close
to 43 000 hours of volunteers’ work, to complete.
The Ihana was launched on 23rd July 2007, and its
maiden voyage took place on 1st June 2011.
The ship is owned by the Ihana traditional ship association, which maintains the traditional boat harbour and centre. The traditional ship centre offers
facilities for restoring wooden boats, and houses
a café, meeting rooms and exhibition space. The
permanent exhibition includes a visual and textual
display of the Ihana’s various construction phases.
From May to September the Ihana makes sailing
trips for the general public in Luvia’s Baltic Sea
National Park. Charter cruises are arranged, too.
The ship also sails every year to Rauma, Pori and
Uusikaupunki, as well as to Turku and Helsinki. The
Ihana is registered to sail around the entire Baltic Sea, and she also plays hostess every summer
to youth and training sailing trips. In addition, the
Ihana has taken part in the Tall Ships Race.
IHANA.fi
Laitakari
The sea is “the be all and end all” for the people of Luvia. A few kilometres from the church
is Laitakari harbour, where you can enjoy the glittering sea and beautiful surrounding nature.
Children can take a dip on Laitakari’s sandy beach, have an ice cream at the café, and admire the splendid boats in the guest harbor. Bikes are for hire from Varvitupa (Ihana office),
so visitors by boat also have the opportunity to become familiar with the centre of Luvia
and its idyllic surrounding villages. Among the facilities at Laitakari are Varvitupa, the Ihana
booking office and café; PaatPub pub; Messi restaurant; and Merihelmi sauna/leisure centre.
Music pervades the air from Laitakari dance hall every Saturday evening throughout the
summer, when the traditional, old-time dances take place.
Merihelmi and cruises
Merihelmi, on Laitakari beach, offers year-round
sauna and swimming facilities. Private functions,
parties, sauna evenings, meetings and training can
be organised here. Merihelmi is licensed to sell
beers and mild alcoholic drinks (“C” licence).
The leisure centre utiilises solar energy. Luvia’s
Laitakari is home port to three cruisers, the M/S
Empaatti, the M/S Sympaatti and the M/S Waltava.
Cruises around the archipelago are organised for
the general public, and also charter cruises can be
arranged, for example to the lighthouses and fisheries of the area.
The ”Seilor” holiday village, located about one kilometre from Laitakari, offers accommodation for
visitors.
The guest harbour and PaatPub, and the Luvia municipal guest harbour with its pontoon platforms,
serve boaters under the protective eye of Merihelmi in Luvia Laitakari harbour. There are moorings
for 14 boats in the municipal guest harbour.
LUVIANMERIHELMI.fi
LAITAKARINMESSI.fi
The casually-refurbished PaatPub offers refreshments and entertainment in the form of laid-back
music, as well as its own unique programme. PaatPub has a large outdoor terrace and is fully licensed.
Open from June to September.
In winter you can ski and skate on the specially
maintained tracks on the frozen Laitakari sea.
The municipality of Luvia is made up of several separate villages,
all with their own characters. Here is a description and background
of some of them.
Peränkylä village
www.luvia.fi
Peränkylä and Mikola villages have been inhabited
since at least the beginning of the 1400s. In the past
there have been business activities like bell casting, an electricity plant and mill, several shops and
schools, and a post office.
Today, many different businesses and farms operate in both villages. The cultural environment of
Peränkylä is recognised by the Finnish National
Board of Antiquities as being of national importance. The residents of Peränkylä and Mikola together established a village association, with the
aim of continuing the activities of the original
”end-“ or “back village”
Peränkylä smallholders’ association. From the outset, the association’s activities have been geared
more towards the summer months, and events are
generally centred around the Barn, also owned by
the association. Traditional events include spring
and autumn fairs, flea markets, various exhibitions,
and trips. The barn is also rented out for private
functions e.g. for auctions.
Pinkjärvi lake is another birdwatcher’s paradise.
The area includes a woodpeckers’ spruce copse,
and Pinkjärvi is part of the Natura 2000 area. For
more details contact marja.kaski@pp.inet.fi
LUVIA.fi
Niemenkylä village
The distance along the southern edge of the village to Lankoori point is about 11 km, which is
15 km to the north-west of the centre of Luvia.
Niemenkylä is divided into several smaller areas,
for example the village centre, or Niemi, as well as
Verkkoranta, Lankoori, and another area along the
Viasvesi road.
Krikutilli, the summer residence at Verkkoranta,
is an example of the architectural classicism of
the 1920s. Akseli and Sandra Hannus, themselves
from Niemenkylä, established and built the place
for wealthy visitors to come and spend their leisure time in the summer. Built in 1927,Verkkoranta
summer residence operated as a summer home
until 1958. The building has undergone extensive
restoration work.
Krikutilli is not only a lovely place to visit: it can
be hired for special occasions, and is also a very
suitable venue for cultural activities, exhibitions,
performances, and workshops.
For pictures and info (in Finnish) facebook.com/
Krikutilli
The church-owned summer home is in Niemenkylä’s Katiranta. In the summer, camps for
children and youngsters, as well as various gatherings for the elderly, veterans, young people and for
families, are organised jointly by the church and
Luvia municipality. The church’s summer home
can also be hired for private functions.
Luodonkylä village
Luvia Luodonkylä was originally an island in the
sea, with no land link to the mainland.The village is
an old boat and shipbuilding area, whose roots lie
in the heart of the farmers’ boatbuilding and trading of the late Middle Ages, and in the fishing activities that preceded. Luodonkylä has been inhabited
at least since the beginning of the 15th century.
The population of Luodonkylä is about 350, living
mostly along the roads that run through the village.
The architecture is a mixture of old and new, and a
certain amount of the old buildings are protected.
The members of the active village association can
LUVIA.fi
“cape village”
”islet village”
claim some great achievements – among them are
the events area established on the green at the
junction of the Laitakari road, and the building of
the Kulju bivouac shelter and area. In winter there
is a skating rink at Kulju, and in summer a volleyball court and play area, all for the villagers’ use.
Every year the village association organises a Midsummer fête in the events area, and presents the
village with a traditionally decorated Midsummer
pole, and at Christmas organises a ceremony for
the declaration of Christmas Peace, along with a
Christmas tree. The association also arranges and
is involved in many other events in Luvia.
For over ten years running, Luvia’s youth association
has produced some wonderful musicals in its winter
theatre, held in Tasala village hall. It also has an active
summer theatre.
Many interesting artists, photographers, designers and
craftspeople live and work in Luvia, among them Matti
Luotola, photographer, and Liisa Tuomala, jewellery artist. NOUSEVAMYRSKY.fi
Luvian Seor is a cultural association that promotes and
maintains the local dialect and local history. Its museum
has displays of bygone times and of seafaring history in
particular.
The library arranges displays of artists’ work, and the
new Ihana Gallery at Laitakari hosts temporary maritime-themed exhibitions, which change every month.
Tuomo Salonen’s ITE-spirited (Contemporary Folk Art)
sculptures are situated in Laitakari. Tapani Marjanen,
master woodcraftsman, and Oili Marjanen, handicraftswoman, have their workshop, Jänönhäntä (“the hare’s
tail”) in their back garden, from where they sell their
handicrafts and souvenirs from there.
The municipality is home to three choirs: Luvia male
voice choir, Luvia ladies’ choir and Luvia church choir.
Summer entertainment is offered at Ihana Jazz and
Verkkoranta Jazz events.
Cultural activities galore!
January-February
Musical at Tasala winter theatre
March
1st Saturday in March
Family winter-funday at Laitakari
April
27.4 National Veteran’s Day celebrations
June
Old-time dancing at Laitakari all summer long
July
1st Sunday in July – Luvia summer fête
www.luvia.fi
August
Verkkoranta jazz
Summer theatre with covered spectator stand
December
6.12 Independence Day reception
From village to village
– by bike!
9.
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Points of cultural and natural
interest around the villages
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Via
1. Shopping centre
- municipal offices, banks, shops
- health centre, pharmacy
2. LAITAKARI
- traditional shipbuilding, Ihana galleas
- guest harbour, beach
- services: cafés and restaurant
- dance hall
8.
3km
Sunti
tie
in
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Verkkora
7.
or
aP
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n
Va
Knapern
6. Niem
ummi
enkylä
10.
ntie
me
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Po
To
Kolinum
mi
i
Pors5m. u
sa
Hannin
kylä
Kuussa
ari
kko
tie
hden
la
Kuiva
Luodon
k
Murro
ylä
tie
kari
kko
2. Laita
1.
Kir
3.
4.
Rintam
Bothnia
a
äki
Koivuka
n sea
aankulm
Väipäre
m
ri
11.
Lemlah
ti
15. Mik
ola
Korven
kylä
14.
Peränky
lä
To Rauma and Turku
12.
13.
Pinkjärv
i
- Laitakari monument, dedicated to Luvia
shipbuilding, showing seawater level
over the centuries
3. LUODONKYLÄ
- Midsummer pole
- bivouac, Luodonkylä village association
4. HANNINKYLÄ
- astroturf pitch and athletics track and
field sportsground
5. PORSMUSA
- children’s play area, Palkertti area and
Kint polku exercise and park area
6. NIEMENKYLÄ
7. – Krikutilli,Verkkoranta summer residence
- beach and sauna
- Werkholm memorial
8. Pruuthuane in Lankoori
9. The last bear’s stone at Karhunkiventie road
10. Knapernummi trenches
11. Kulkurin kartano manor, open in the
summertime
12. Tuomo Salonen bivouac, grill pit
13. The beach at Pinkjärvi lake
14. PERÄNKYLÄ barn
15. Mikola, Evasti farm Hereford cattle
Wellamo
To Niemenkylä
5.
ie
yst
Yhd
Wellamo
1.
Rural museum
Kindergarten
Sports
field
Ice hall
3.
Church
Ke
Health centre
2.
Municipal
hall
To Laitakari
School
New
library
hä
tie
LUVIANTASALA.fi
4. Chapel
Ki
rk
To Luodonkylä village
Old library
Cemetery
6.
ko
tie
To Peränkylä
1. Luvia local museum
2. The anchor from the galleas Veikko
3. Sandstone church
4. Chapel
5. Kestikievari pole, in front of Vähäruuti area
6. Cemetery:
- Victory statue 1921
- Soldier’s grave and statue, monument to those
who fell in the wars of 1939-40 and 1941-44
- Memorial to those from Luvia who fell, 1955
- Memorial to those left in Karelia, 1959
- Sepulchral monument of J.C.Gripenberg
Kirkko
Kunnantalo
Luvia Municipal Office
Kirkkotie 17, 29100 Luvia
Open Mon-Thu 8.00-15.30
Fri 8.00-15.00
Switchboard and Info
+358 (0)2 540 811
Website: luvia.fi
Email: luvian.kunnanvirasto@luvia.fi
Tourist information
+358 (0) 440 580 600
Photos Emil Fihlman, Milla Grönman, Marjo Heino, Matti Luotola, Petri Niemi, Timo Nieminen, Mia Sajantola, Anna Penttilä, Piia Vallenius, Unto Vallin • Graafinen suunnittelu Marjo Heino • Painopaikka Plusprint
Tasala