Discover Kittilä: Art and Nature in the Parish Village

Kittilä brings together distinctive art and cultural sites with a nature experience around the Ukonpulju walking trail and Karinnoka. In the parish village, the church, museums and library tell stories of art and local life; at the bird tower, you can also enjoy views of the Ounasjoki and Levi Fell, along with information about local birdlife. Which of these aspects you choose to make the focus of your trip can also shape your choice of accommodation and the pace of your stay.

Kittilä at a glance

• The wooden church was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel; its Baroque pulpit dates from 1687.
• The Palsa Museum is located in the artist Kalervo Palsa’s former home and studio.
• The Ukonpulju walking trail leads from behind the health centre to the shelter and Karinnoka bird tower.
• The bird tower has two levels with information boards about local birdlife and the aquatic environment.
• The local heritage museum is in Pakatti, about four kilometres from the centre of the parish village.
• Yläri Cinema shows films in the parish village on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Art and local history in the parish village

Kittilä’s wooden church brings together architectural history and a distinctive feature of its interior: the building was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, and the Baroque pulpit was donated from Laurila in Keminmaa in 1687. The pulpit’s exact date and origin give a concrete historical context to a visit to the church. You can take in two different aspects of the building: the church’s design and the history of its donated pulpit.

The art museums also have different focuses. The Palsa Museum is located in the home and studio of Kittilä artist Kalervo Palsa, who lived from 1947 to 1987. The museum opened to the public on 6 June 2013.

The Einari Junttila Art Museum is the home and artistic environment of artist Einari Junttila. It is open on Thursdays from 1 to 5 pm; visits at other times can be arranged by appointment. If you plan your day around a museum visit, these stated hours are practical: Thursday offers a regular visiting window, while a visit outside these hours requires an appointment. Opening hours may change.

Another cultural venue is the Kittilä Library. Its offerings include a varied collection, exhibitions that change monthly, and various events and gatherings. Together with the art museums and the church, it shows that culture in the parish village is not limited to a single building or era.

Walking to Karinnoka: trail, views and birdlife

The Ukonpulju recreational trail is an easy walking route. It starts behind the health centre and ends at the Karinnoka shelter and bird tower. The trail thus leads to two places you can combine on your walk: the shelter offers a place for a short rest, while the tower provides information about local birdlife and the aquatic environment. The shelter is freely accessible to everyone and intended for short visits.

From the shelter, you can look out over the Ounasjoki River and Levi Fell. There is a fireplace in the shelter, and firewood for visitors is available in the adjacent woodshed. The view and practical facilities give the stop its own character, without requiring you to turn your break into a long stay. You can learn more about local birdlife at the tower: about 130 different bird species have been recorded in the Karinnoka area since 1974. A total of about 130 different bird species have been recorded in the Karinnoka area since 1974.

The bird tower has two levels. Its information boards cover local birdlife and the aquatic environment. The lower level has a wheelchair ramp and is accessible by wheelchair and pushchair; this information applies specifically to that level. If you are travelling with a pushchair, you can also walk the Ukonpulju trail when it is snow-free. This lets you plan around the specific conditions: the trail is subject to a seasonal restriction, and the accessible lower level of the tower is identified.

Cinema and recurring seasonal events

Yläri Cinema shows films in the parish village on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It has 102 seats in a tiered auditorium, four wheelchair spaces and a lift for wheelchairs. The screening days give you a rough idea of the weekly schedule; the specific choice of films is a separate matter.

Traditional events also bring distinct seasonal highlights to the year in Kittilä. The summer markets are traditionally held in July in the parish village; the Staalon festival days are traditionally held in autumn. These seasonal periods can help you place the events within your general travel plans, but they are not a guarantee of a specific date in any given year. If events are important to your trip, you should therefore not assume a fixed date.

A trip to the local heritage museum

Kittilä’s local heritage museum is in Pakatti, about four kilometres from the centre of the parish village, on the banks of the Ounasjoki. It is therefore a nearby destination, rather than a museum in the centre. The collection comprises almost 1,000 objects and mainly displays farming items from Kittilä dating from the first half of the 20th century. Everyday life and agricultural history are the focus of a visit here, while the art museums offer other cultural perspectives.

The layout of the museum buildings also contributes to the character of the place: they follow an old Peräpohjola-Lapland settlement pattern. The museum is open seasonally. This seasonal operation distinguishes it from the cultural attractions in the parish village described as being open year-round, and is an important consideration if you plan to make the museum a separate stop on your itinerary.

Which accommodation suits your interests?

If art and local history are your main interests, the church, museums and library will be key stops in your plans. If you would rather focus your stay on a walk and nature observation, Ukonpulju and Karinnoka offer specific experiences around which you can plan your day. Your choice of accommodation therefore depends on whether art and local history or walks and nature observation are the stronger focus of your trip.

If you would like to expand your travel plans beyond Kittilä, discover the destinations of Nellim, Räisälä, Ylläsjärvi, Enontekiö, Sodankylä, Tornio, Sirkka and Kilpisjärvi.

Frequently asked questions about Kittilä

When is the Einari Junttila Art Museum open?

The museum is open on Thursdays from 1 to 5 pm. Visits at other times can be arranged by appointment.

Can I walk the Ukonpulju trail with a pushchair?

Yes, the trail can be walked with a pushchair when it is snow-free. The lower level of the Karinnoka bird tower is accessible with a pushchair.

Which level of the bird tower is accessible by wheelchair?

The lower level has a wheelchair ramp and is accessible by wheelchair. This information applies to the lower level of the tower.

What can I expect at Kittilä’s local heritage museum?

The seasonally open museum in Pakatti mainly displays farming items from Kittilä dating from the first half of the 20th century. Its buildings are laid out according to an old Peräpohjola-Lapland settlement pattern.

For the overarching travel overview: Lapland.