Kannusjärvi: Village History Between Lakes and a Windmill

Kannusjärvi combines a village landscape shaped by lakes with unusually vivid traces of history. The grounds of Tykän maatila are home to a homemade windmill, museums in historic buildings and an arboretum; winding village roads circle the lakes, passing cultivated shores and groups of farmsteads. Other features include a historic memorial stone, a network of hiking trails through several villages and, in winter, a lit ski trail. These varied experiences can help you decide whether Kannusjärvi is right for culture, scenery or outdoor activities before you look for a hotel for your trip.

Kannusjärvi at a glance

• Hannu Tykä completed the three-storey windmill in 1993, based on an old windmill.
• The Tykän Riihimuseo is housed in a barn more than 120 years old and displays old agricultural items.
• The arboretum on the farm grounds features more than 80 tree species.
• The lit fitness and cross-country ski trail in Kannusjärvi is 2.7 kilometres long; it is used for cross-country skiing seasonally.
• Portimon polut is a hiking trail network more than 60 kilometres long, passing through Ruissalo, Kannusjärvi, Kitula and Metsäkylä.

Lakes, village roads and historic settlement

Kannusjärvi’s landscape is not defined solely by individual attractions. Village roads wind around Lake Kannusjärvi and the smaller Pieni Kannusjärvi; they offer views of cultivated lakeshores and groups of farmsteads. The interplay of water, fields and scattered farms shapes the impression of the village. If you are especially interested in the landscape, this offers a different focus from a day devoted mainly to museums or local history.

The historic village, too, was closely linked to its waterways. Its settlements lay along a north–south chain of lakes: Kannusjärvi, Pieni Kannusjärvi and Haukjärvi, together with the small rivers connecting them, formed the surrounding landscape. Today’s orientation around the lakes thus reflects an older settlement pattern. The waterways are more than names on a map when it comes to understanding local history: they are part of the landscape in which the historic farms stood.

The first written reference dates back to 1525. That year, Kannusjärvi—associated with the names Hasula/Cannisyervi and Timperi—was mentioned for the first time among the upland villages. If you are interested in long stretches of history, you can consider the historic village structure and later memorial sites together, rather than getting to know Kannusjärvi through just one attraction.

Windmill and museums at Tykän maatila

The three-storey windmill is a landmark of Kannusjärvi. Hannu Tykä built it himself, completing it in 1993 based on an old windmill. Its distinctive shape and specific construction history give the village a tangible connection to its past. The mill also links local history with craftsmanship and architecture: it is not only based on an old design but was also built by a local resident himself.

The Tykän Riihimuseo is also on the farm grounds. The museum is housed in a barn more than 120 years old that has been preserved on its original site, and it is filled with old agricultural items. The building and collection tell the story of farming life in different ways: the barn conveys the historic building fabric, while the objects illustrate agriculture as practical work.

The small Tykän Maitolavamuseo stands between the Riihimuseo and the windmill. Together with the mill and barn museum, it forms an ensemble of different sizes and themes. This is particularly interesting if you are interested in everyday history and rural buildings: rather than looking at just one object, you can consider the different ways of commemorating the past on the farm grounds in relation to one another. A small arboretum with more than 80 tree species adds a botanical dimension to the historic buildings.

Memorial sites and trails for different interests

The Pakokivi memorial stone commemorates another aspect of local history. Forest refugees erected it at their hideout on 23 April 1918, under the leadership of Erik Tykä (1866–1948). The date 20 April 1918 is carved into the stone—the day the men fled there. Both dates are part of the site’s history: the carved date recalls the flight, while the later date marks the erection of the stone.

The crash site of a Soviet bomber that crashed in the summer of 1941 is also on a field at the Tykä farm. It, too, is connected with local history. The Pakokivi and the crash site represent different historical memories and should not be conflated with the agricultural collections or the older village history. If you want to focus on historical themes, these sites offer a distinct point of interest alongside the windmill and museums.

If you would rather combine exercise with scenery, Portimon polut offers a hiking trail network spanning more than 60 kilometres in total. It passes through Ruissalo, Kannusjärvi, Kitula and Metsäkylä. The total distance describes the entire network, not an individual section in Kannusjärvi. This distinction is useful when choosing the kind of outing you prefer: the trail network connects several villages, while the lit fitness and cross-country ski trail is a shorter, precisely measured option within Kannusjärvi.

The trail is 2.7 kilometres long and is used for both fitness and cross-country skiing. Lighting is a specific feature of the trail; cross-country skiing is a winter-season activity. This offers two different ways to get active: a hiking trail network more than 60 kilometres long that passes through four villages, and a short local trail for fitness and seasonal cross-country skiing. This helps you compare the options by activity and scale without mistaking the network’s total length for a single hike.

Local refreshments as part of an alpaca walk

A listed Aholafarm alpaca-walking package includes a campfire meal. It features Takaladon-Lihas sausages with mustard, salad or savoury pastries, coffee brewed in a pot, tea, juice and homemade sweet pastries. These foods and drinks are part of this Aholafarm package. The contents of a package may change.

For your trip planning, this offers a different focus from the museums or trails: here, refreshments are part of a specific activity. If you are choosing Kannusjärvi based on the kind of experience you want for the day, you can consider the historic sites, the landscape and this package as different interests rather than combining them into a single itinerary.

Kannusjärvi as a base for your trip

When planning your trip, consider whether you are most interested in village history, scenery or outdoor activities. Choose a hotel to suit your itinerary and use the themes described here as a guide to what interests you in Kannusjärvi.

Discover more destinations: Kotka, Hamina, Kuusankoski, Veikkola, Jaala, Pyhtää, Verla and Kouvola.

Frequently asked questions about Kannusjärvi

What makes the Kannusjärvi windmill special?

Hannu Tykä built the three-storey windmill himself, completing it in 1993 based on an old windmill. It is considered a landmark of the village.

What can you see at the Tykän Riihimuseo?

The museum is housed in a barn more than 120 years old that has been preserved on its original site, and is filled with old agricultural items. The small Tykän Maitolavamuseo also stands between it and the windmill.

How long is the trail in Kannusjärvi?

The lit fitness and cross-country ski trail is 2.7 kilometres long. Cross-country skiing is a seasonal use; the stated length refers to the trail, not the Portimon polut hiking network.

How long is Portimon polut?

The hiking trail network is more than 60 kilometres long in total and passes through Ruissalo, Kannusjärvi, Kitula and Metsäkylä. The total length refers to the network across all four villages.

What dates are associated with the Pakokivi?

Forest refugees erected the memorial stone on 23 April 1918 under the leadership of Erik Tykä. The date 20 April 1918 is carved into it—the day the men fled to their hideout.

See the main travel guide: Kymenlaakso.