Vanhamäki: Drumlins, Horses and Family History

Vanhamäki combines a distinctive elevated setting with a long family history: in the village, Muinola sits on a high drumlin ridge, and the estate has been associated with the Muinonen family since at least 1541. There are also horse-related activities and a drum-making course where participants can make their own instrument. Here, landscape, local history and hands-on activities come together.

Vanhamäki at a glance

• Muinola is located in the village of Vanhamäki, in the Järvisuomi region, on a high drumlin ridge.
• Muinola is 160 metres above sea level.
• The earliest known written mention of the Muinonen family is in a land register from 1541.
• Of the five historical residences named, only Muinola is still inhabited today.
• On school days, buses run via Mikkeli, Kovala, Harjumaa and Vanhamäki to Otava and the centre of Mikkeli. The stated period runs from 3 August 2026 to 6 June 2027.

Ridges and forest lakes

Two features of the landscape are closely linked to Muinola: the estate lies on a high drumlin ridge and 160 metres above sea level. Because of this elevated position, its lands extend to only a few forest lakes. The description thus brings together a distinctly elevated location and a limited number of lakes on Muinola’s land.

The scale is different in the wider region. Mikkeli and its nearest neighbouring municipalities have an estimated total of around 13,500 kilometres of shoreline. This figure describes the wider area, while the few forest lakes are on Muinola’s land. The distinction is useful when planning a trip: the extensive shoreline characterises the wider surroundings, not the landscape of Muinola alone. Vanhamäki can therefore be understood both in terms of the region’s lake landscape and the estate’s distinctive elevated position.

The history of the Muinonen family

A land register from 1541 contains the earliest known written mention of the Muinonen family. Muinola has been owned by the family since at least that year. Three Muinonen families lived in Vanhamäki near Mikkeli; the family’s roots lie in a land-grant area with up to five residences: Pohjoiskangas, Hannola, Muinola, Pekkala and Anttila. Today, only Muinola is still inhabited.

The names of the residences also make the family history tangible in a geographical sense: in addition to Muinola, Hannola, Pekkala and Anttila, as well as Pohjoiskangas, are among the recorded places in the land-grant area. Muinola is the only one of these five places that is still inhabited today. According to the family’s count, Muinola’s current owner belongs to the fourteenth generation of the Muinonen family. The year 1541, the named residences and the generational count thus offer different insights into the family’s long connection with the place.

Horse activities and drum making

In Vanhamäki, Luonto-Taipale offers nature and wellbeing services. These include workshop days using the constellation method with horses, as well as trail rides on Finnhorses. The two activities have different focuses: the workshop centres on the constellation method with horses, while the ride is about riding on trails. If you would like to include a horse-related activity in your travel plans, you can choose between a workshop and a riding experience.

Akkain Woima offers a different kind of experience with its drum-making courses. Participants can make their own Woimarumpu drum. Horse activities and drum making are distinct options for a stay in Vanhamäki: experiences with horses on the one hand, and a course where you create your own instrument on the other. This helps you decide what you would like to focus on during your trip, without reducing the activities to just one type of experience.

Getting there and choosing accommodation

The bus service is limited to school days. From 3 August 2026 to 6 June 2027, buses run via Mikkeli, Kovala, Harjumaa and Vanhamäki to Otava and the centre of Mikkeli. When planning, take both the school-day restriction and the stated period into account; this does not describe a daily, year-round service.

When choosing where to stay, you can start with your travel interests: Muinola’s elevated location and family history, the horse activities or the drum-making course each give Vanhamäki a different focus. If you would like to discover other destinations, you can also include Mäntyharju, Hietanen, Ristiina, Majavesi, Rahula, Haukivuori, Puumala and Kangasniemi in your plans.

Frequently asked questions about Vanhamäki

What characterises the landscape around Muinola?

Muinola lies on a high drumlin ridge, 160 metres above sea level. Because of its elevated position, its lands extend to only a few forest lakes.

How far back does the history of the Muinonen family in Vanhamäki go?

The earliest known written mention is in a land register from 1541; Muinola has been owned by the family since at least that year. According to the family’s count, the current owner belongs to the fourteenth generation.

What horse-related activities are available in Vanhamäki?

Luonto-Taipale offers workshop days using the constellation method with horses and trail rides on Finnhorses.

When do buses run via Vanhamäki?

The stated bus service operates on school days from 3 August 2026 to 6 June 2027. It runs via Mikkeli, Kovala, Harjumaa and Vanhamäki to Otava and the centre of Mikkeli.

For the broader travel overview: Mikkeli.