Kauppilanmäki: Village History and Community

Kauppilanmäki is in eastern Vieremä. Its history brings together the Kauppinen family’s heritage and an old log building that serves as a meeting place. Event spaces, a wood-fired sauna, and the village’s location near the municipal boundaries of Sonkajärvi and Iisalmi also give it a distinct character.

Kauppilanmäki at a glance

• The village is in the eastern part of Vieremä, near the municipal boundaries of Sonkajärvi and Iisalmi.
• Kauppilanmäki was named Village of the Year in Pohjois-Savo in 2014.
• The former school is an old log building and serves as a meeting place for villagers and associations.
• The former school has a function room and an adjoining room for 60 to 80 people.
• The courtyard of the village community center has a wood-fired sauna for about ten people; it was completely renovated in 2010.

Location in eastern Vieremä

Kauppilanmäki is a village in Vieremä, near the boundaries with Sonkajärvi and Iisalmi. There are fast road connections from here to Vieremä and Iisalmi. This location is a practical point of reference when looking for a hotel for your trip: consider whether Kauppilanmäki itself or one of the two towns will feature more prominently in your travel plans. The road connections offer a concrete geographical reference point.

If you’d like to explore more destinations, you can also find Varkaus, Sonkajärvi, Säviä, Karttula, Lapinlahti, Syvärinpää, Rautalampi and Pörsänmäki.

Family history and historic buildings

The name Kauppilanmäki is closely connected with the surname Kauppinen, which derives from the first name Kauppi. By 1599 at the latest, the Kauppinen family had come to Kauppilanmäki from Leppävirta. The brothers Riekki and Jussi built their houses next to each other there. The village’s history thus leads from the origin of its name to the story of its early settlement.

Another dated landmark is Rapakko House, completed in 1926. Rapakko and neighboring Ristola are considered the ancestral homes of the Kauppinen family in Ylä-Savo. The village’s designation as Village of the Year in Pohjois-Savo in 2014 is also part of its history. These details highlight different aspects: early family history, a specific construction date, and a later regional award.

The former school as a meeting place

Kauppilanmäki’s former school is an old log building that evokes the dignified character of times gone by. At the same time, the building serves as a meeting place for villagers and associations. It therefore connects the village’s architectural history with its use as a community space.

The school can be rented for events and celebrations. A function room and an adjoining room are available for 60 to 80 people. The village center also offers spaces for various events and celebrations; rentals are handled by the association Kauppilanmäen kyläyhdistys ry. For specific plans, check availability with the association.

There is also a wood-fired sauna in the courtyard of the village community center. It was completely renovated in 2010 and can accommodate about ten people. If you plan to use it, check current availability with the operator.

Landscape and elevation

The landscape is another aspect of the village’s character. The 2024 regional plan proposal designates Kauppilanmäki as a regionally valuable landscape area. The village is also in a higher-lying area, at about 190 meters above sea level. The planning designation and approximate elevation provide two different points of reference: a regional assessment of the landscape area and the village’s topographical location.

Frequently asked questions about Kauppilanmäki

Where is Kauppilanmäki?

Kauppilanmäki is a village in the eastern part of Vieremä. It is near the municipal boundaries of Sonkajärvi and Iisalmi, with fast road connections to Vieremä and Iisalmi.

What are the village’s key historical landmarks?

The Kauppinen family came to Kauppilanmäki from Leppävirta by 1599 at the latest. Rapakko House was completed in 1926, and the village was named Village of the Year in Pohjois-Savo in 2014.

How many people can the rooms in the former school accommodate?

The former school has a function room and an adjoining room for 60 to 80 people. The school can be rented for events and celebrations.

What is known about the sauna?

The wood-fired sauna is in the courtyard of the village community center. It was completely renovated in 2010 and can accommodate about ten people. Check its current availability with the operator.

For the broader travel overview: Northern Savonia.