Kosula between Suvasvesi and Juojärvi

Etelä-Tuusniemi is an isthmus between Suvasvesi and Juojärvi; Kosula is part of this area. Life by the lake and in the village, hiking trails and places to visit shape the village and its surroundings. Kojanlahti has a marina and a designated swimming area; nearby, the former village school Villa Rysseli and a landscape of gravel ridges and sandy beaches add to the character of the place.

Kosula at a glance

• Kosula is part of Etelä-Tuusniemi, an isthmus between Suvasvesi and Juojärvi.
• Kojanlahti Marina is located at Kojanlahdentie 865 in Kosula.
• There is a designated swimming area at the same address in Kojanlahti.
• Hiking trails are signposted in the Kosula area; the village lies along the main road towards Heinävesi.
• Villa Rysseli is near the marina and offers, among other things, a playground and seasonal cultural activities.

Isthmus, shores and landscape

Etelä-Tuusniemi lies between Suvasvesi and Juojärvi; Kosula is part of this area. The two lakes provide geographical bearings, while Kosula has good connections to the shores of both. For trip planning, this means that the lakes shape the range of options in the region, although specific places and activities vary.

Nearby Kojanlahti has traditionally been shaped by agriculture and forestry. Gravel ridges and sandy beaches are also part of its landscape. The area is therefore about more than its bodies of water: the contours of the land and its long history of use also define its character. Those considering Kosula as a travel destination will find a setting of lake shores, woodland and agricultural land, and small local places to visit.

Kojanlahti: marina and swimming area

Kojanlahti Marina is located in Kosula at Kojanlahdentie 865. It is on Lake Juojärvi, west of Jäätsalo and near a channel with a depth of 1.8 metres.

The Kojanlahti jetty and its swimming areas are popular summer meeting places. The designated swimming area is also at Kojanlahdentie 865; the beach has a sandy bottom and clear water. The marina, jetty and swimming area offer different ways to spend time: one spot offers views of the water and marina activity, while another is suited to a swim at the beach.

This distinction is useful when choosing activities for the day, especially when a group has different interests. The swimming area is a specific place for a swim, while the marina and jetty connect you with Lake Juojärvi. Kosula also has good connections to the shores of Lake Suvasvesi. This means both lakes remain part of regional trip planning, rather than just a single beach.

Villa Rysseli: village history and summer activities

Villa Rysseli is 200 metres from the marina. It is a former village school that has been maintained and renovated by the village community. The villa has an art sales exhibition and a summer café. Events and pop-up café days are also held in summer.

The café is a seasonal offering on summer weekends. The menu includes coffee and homemade savoury and sweet pastries. Alongside the marina and swimming area, Villa Rysseli offers another way to spend a summer day: art and community-centred village culture complement the activities by the water.

Villa Rysseli has a children's playground with a swing, sandbox and climbing frame, as well as an open fire shelter. The café's outdoor area also includes a barbecue shelter. The school beach at Villa Rysseli can be reached via the Kojanlahti jetty.

Hiking trails and local stories

There are signposted hiking trails in the Kosula area. A notable landmark nearby is the large erratic boulder Rosvokivi, also known as Bandit Stone. It stands in the middle of the forest on Luostaritie near Kosula. According to a local legend, the devil threw the stone into place. The boulder thus links a distinctive feature of the landscape with a regional story.

Seinävuori-Rotkolaakso, an impressive gorge in the Kosula area, is another distinctive landscape feature. The surroundings of Kosula also include fish-rich rapids and islands associated with historical stories.

Etelä-Tuusniemi: cultural landscape and longer routes

In the wider Etelä-Tuusniemi travel area, Paimensaari is a place to visit, with a farmstead on the island and several buildings. Grazing has restored a traditional cultural landscape of meadow and forest pastures there. This offers a different focus from the swimming and marina spots in Kojanlahti: here, the emphasis is on the interplay between farm buildings and a landscape shaped by human use.

The Luostarivaellus hiking route is also part of the regional offering. It starts at the Särkinen hut on the road to Vasarasalo. The distance from the hut to Lintula Monastery is seven kilometres; from Lintula to Valamo, it is another 18 kilometres. These distances help you assess the stages separately. When planning a specific hike, you should also take current trail conditions into account.

Kojanlahti School offers a glimpse of village life: since autumn 2015, it has served year-round as a shared village centre for several villages. Residents of southern Tuusniemi take part in adult education courses, village activities and sports there, and hold events and private celebrations. This shows another side of the region, where community activities sit alongside nature and cultural experiences.

Choosing the right accommodation base

When looking for accommodation in Kosula, it helps to first decide what kind of pace you want for your days. If your trip is to focus mainly on the water and swimming breaks, the marina and swimming area in Kojanlahti are good points of reference. If you prefer to explore on foot, you can include the signposted trails in the Kosula area and longer sections of the regional route in your plans. Art, village history and the landscape add other themes to the mix.

This lets you organise your stay around your interests, rather than treating all the places and activities as one single itinerary. For a shorter outing, focus on the offerings in Kojanlahti; the Luostarivaellus route, with its stated distances, is a different undertaking. If you would like to discover more destinations, you can also visit Kuhmo, Anttola, Oravikoski, Ruokolahti, Leppävirta and Heinävesi.

Frequently asked questions about Kosula

Where is Kojanlahti Marina?

The marina is in Kosula at Kojanlahdentie 865, on Lake Juojärvi and west of Jäätsalo. A channel with a depth of 1.8 metres is nearby.

What is special about the swimming area in Kojanlahti?

The designated swimming area is at Kojanlahdentie 865. The beach has a sandy bottom and clear water.

What is seasonal at Villa Rysseli?

The summer café serves coffee and homemade savoury and sweet pastries on summer weekends. Events and pop-up café days are also held in summer.

How are the distances divided along the Luostarivaellus route?

The route starts at the Särkinen hut. It is seven kilometres to Lintula Monastery, followed by another 18 kilometres from Lintula to Valamo.

Go to the main travel overview: Saimaa Lakes.