Multia between church heritage and nature trails

In Multia, the history of an old church village meets trails through varied terrain. The church, nature trails and location at the intersection of two important roads offer different starting points for your trip. You can consider whether Multia fits your plans for culture, nature or a mix of both.

Multia at a glance

• Multia Church was completed in 1796 and is also known as the Loviisa-Charlotta Church.
• It acquired its present-day Neo-Gothic appearance in 1900; Matti Åkergren designed and built it as a pure cross-shaped church.
• The old church village lies on an isthmus between bodies of water, bringing the landscape and village structure together in a harmonious historic church village.
• The Poet’s Path runs through varied terrain for about 8 to 9 km from Multia to Vuorela.
• Multia is at the intersection of Highway 18 and Main Road 58; the nearest railway stations are in Keuruu and Jyväskylä.

The church and village: history in the townscape

The church offers several concrete points of reference for understanding Multia’s architectural history. It was completed in 1796 and acquired its present-day Neo-Gothic appearance in 1900. Matti Åkergren designed and built it as a pure cross-shaped church. This makes it possible to distinguish between two different stages in the building’s history: the church’s completion and the later design that defines its present-day appearance. Visitors interested in architecture can make these details a focus of their trip planning without reducing the cultural history to a single date.

The location of the old church village is also distinctive: it lies on an isthmus between bodies of water. Together, the landscape and village structure form a harmonious historic church village. This offers a different perspective on the area’s history than the church’s architectural form, focusing instead on the relationship between the settlement and its surroundings. For families looking to combine different interests on a trip, Multia offers both architectural and landscape features to explore.

The Multia Local Heritage Museum is also part of the area’s history. It opened in 1957 in a granary in Multia. Its original location in a granary connects it to rural everyday life and adds another facet to the local history alongside the church and village.

Nature trails and different routes

The Poet’s Path is an option to consider for a longer outing. Its starting point is 1 km from the centre of Multia, beyond Halli Bridge. As the poet Einari Vuorela’s school route, the path runs through varied terrain for about 8 to 9 km from Multia to Vuorela. The approximate distance and changing terrain are important factors when planning your own route.

A shorter nature-trail option is the trail in the Joensuonkangas Nature Reserve: it is located in Sahrajärvi, Multia, and is just over 2 km long. The Palsankoski–Housukoski Nature Trail is in the area around Multia, 10.5 km from the centre. It is 1.5 km long and lies in the Palsankoski rapids and fishing area. Its route through varied terrain and the considerable changes in elevation offer additional points of reference when comparing trails by length and terrain.

Kulhanvuori is another way to explore the natural surroundings. The area lies on the municipal boundary between Multia and Saarijärvi, is a nature reserve and can be explored on marked trails. These trails, the just-over-2-km nature trail in Joensuonkangas and the longer Poet’s Path differ in their stated lengths and locations. You can choose based on whether you are interested in a nature reserve, a nature trail or a longer route, without confusing the different locations.

Getting there and choosing a base

Multia’s location at the intersection of Highway 18, between Vaasa and Jyväskylä, and Main Road 58, between Kangasala and Kärsämäki, offers clear road connections. If travelling by train, the nearest stations to consider are in Keuruu and Jyväskylä.

When choosing accommodation, the mix of activities you have planned may be decisive: would you like to focus mainly on the history of the church village and its church, or are nature trails and nature reserves higher on your itinerary? The road connections and the stations mentioned may also factor into your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Lievestuore, Kannonkoski, Jyväskylä, Petäjävesi, Laukaa, Kinkomaa, Muhola and Juokslahti.

Frequently asked questions about Multia

When was Multia Church completed?

The church was completed in 1796. It acquired its present-day Neo-Gothic appearance in 1900; it was designed and built by Matti Åkergren as a pure cross-shaped church.

How long is the Poet’s Path?

The Poet’s Path runs through varied terrain for about 8 to 9 km from Multia to Vuorela. Its starting point is 1 km from the centre of Multia, beyond Halli Bridge.

Which nature trails are there in Multia?

The nature trail in the Joensuonkangas Nature Reserve in Sahrajärvi is just over 2 km long. The 1.5-km Palsankoski–Housukoski Trail is in the area around Multia and runs through varied terrain with considerable changes in elevation.

Where are the nearest railway stations?

The nearest railway stations to Multia are in Keuruu and Jyväskylä.

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