Elomäki: Farm History and Nature in the Valtimo Area

Around Elomäki, Eastern Finnish farm history meets striking landscapes. The Murtovaara House Museum tells the story of life in a forest ranger’s family, while Kalliokoski, with its two-part rapids, offers a very different feature. In Elomäki itself, Puukari School was built in 1924. Other farms and routes are in the nearby area or the wider Valtimo area.

Elomäki at a glance

• Puukari School in Elomäki was built in 1924.
• Murtovaara Farm comprises 16 traditional wooden buildings with birch-bark roofs.
• The Murtovaara House Museum offers a glimpse into the life of a forest ranger’s family.
• A forest path about half a kilometre long leads to Murtovaara Farm and views of the surrounding meadows.
• The Valtimo area has multi-use routes for different ability levels, which can be used for walking and cycling in summer.

Farm history and traditional building methods

The Murtovaara House Museum is a former Crown Forest Ranger’s farm and Finland’s only museum of a Vaara settlement. Its 16 buildings were traditionally built of wood. The roofs are also made of birch bark, a roofing material commonly used until the 19th century. Together, the buildings give an idea of how a farm of this kind was laid out in Eastern Finland.

The museum offers a glimpse into the life of a forest ranger’s family. The walking path there, about half a kilometre long, leads through the forest. At the traditional farm, views open up over the surrounding meadows. For planning purposes, the distance provides a practical point of reference; on its own, it says nothing about walking pace. Museum visiting hours are seasonal.

Yläpihan Tila in the Valtimo area offers another glimpse of old farmsteads. The old family farm houses a local history museum in its traditional farmyard, where visitors can learn about rural building methods dating from the 18th century onwards. The buildings come from four different centuries. Because of this architectural heritage, Yläpihan Tila is considered a valuable cultural heritage area.

The farm’s history also goes back a long way: the Häkkinen family officially took over Yläpihan Tila in 1754. The farm also has a flea market and a farm shop. The summer café is a seasonal offering, with coffee, tea, cocoa, non-alcoholic soft drinks and homemade pastries. At Yläpihan Tila, traditional building methods and present-day farm offerings therefore sit side by side, without reducing the place to a single attraction.

Rapids and routes in the Valtimo area

Kalliokoski reveals another side of the nearby area: its two-part rapids roar steeply over a rocky ledge. They are a well-known rapids attraction and regarded as Valtimo’s most beautiful rapids. The rushing water and distinctive rock step make them a landscape feature in their own right, alongside the historic farms.

If you would like to include some activity in your travel plans, the Valtimo area offers versatile multi-use routes for different ability levels. In summer, they can be used for walking and cycling. One specific cycling route is the Visit Karelia route from Peurajärvi to Ylä-Valtimo, which passes through the grounds of Yläpihan Tila. Maintenance and signage may change. Choosing a route and visiting a farmstead are two different ways to experience the area: one follows a trail, the other takes in traditional building methods and farm history.

Places to consider when planning your trip

The cultural attractions are also located in different places. Puukari School is in Elomäki. Murtovaara, Kalliokoski and Yläpihan Tila are nearby; Yläpihan Tila is in the Valtimo area. The Orthodox Chapel of St John the Baptist, also known as Elomäen tsasouna, is likewise associated with Valtimo.

When choosing accommodation for your trip to Elomäki, this distinction helps you keep the local history and excursion destinations separate. The school is a specific building in Elomäki; the farms, rapids and chapel add to the picture of the nearby area. Plan your trip according to whether farm history, landscape or outdoor activities are your main interest.

Discover more destinations: Nurmes, Outokumpu, Valtimo, Liperi, Karhunmäki, Kesälahti, Tolosenmäki and Ketsu.

Frequently asked questions about Elomäki

What makes the Murtovaara House Museum special?

It is a former Crown Forest Ranger’s farm and Finland’s only museum of a Vaara settlement. The 16 wooden buildings with birch-bark roofs and the insight they offer into the life of a forest ranger’s family shape the visit. Opening hours are seasonal.

How long is the path to Murtovaara Farm?

The walking path is about half a kilometre long and leads through the forest to the farm. From there, views open up over the surrounding meadows.

What does Yläpihan Tila include?

The farm in the Valtimo area has a local history museum, a flea market and a farm shop. There is also a seasonal summer café serving drinks and homemade pastries.

What opportunities for outdoor activities are there in the Valtimo area?

In summer, the multi-use routes can be used for walking and cycling; they are suitable for different ability levels. Kalliokoski, with its two-part rapids, offers another striking landscape feature.

For the broader travel overview: North Karelia.