Innala: Ice Age Landscape and Cultural Heritage

Around Innala, landscapes shaped by the Ice Age meet farms, churches, and mill sites with histories of their own. Salussärkkä and Rantalansärkkä reveal the area's geological features, while Heikintupa, Pohjaslahti, and Kangaskoski offer other ways to explore regional architectural and cultural history. This gives you a choice of nature, scenic views, and historic places as you plan your trip.

At a glance: landscape and culture

• Salussärkkä and Rantalansärkkä are esker formations surrounded by water near Pohjaslahti and belong to the same Ice Age formation.
• Rantalansärkkä is in Ylä-Kolkki, a few kilometres north of Salussärkkä. Salussärkkä is also known as “Pikku-Punkaharju”.
• The observation tower on Palellusvuori was built between 2018 and 2022 and opened to the public on 30 April 2022.
• Heikintupa farmstead dates from 1850; historic objects and buildings from the surrounding area are displayed there.
• The history of Vehkaniemen tila goes back to around the mid-16th century, or possibly even earlier. Groups can visit by prior request and arrangement.
• At Kangaskosken myllymuseo, a path circles the millpond; a wooden bridge leads from the mill across the rapids to a lean-to shelter.

Esker landscape and views

Salussärkkä and Rantalansärkkä are two named esker formations surrounded by water near Pohjaslahti. They are connected by their shared formation during the Ice Age. Rantalansärkkä is in Ylä-Kolkki, a few kilometres north of Salussärkkä. The nickname “Pikku-Punkaharju”, meaning “little Punkaharju”, is associated with the landscape of Salussärkkä.

The history of Salussärkkä also offers a distinctive perspective on this natural area: it was once a popular excursion destination, regularly visited by members of the estates who came to admire it. Salussärkkä was designated a nature reserve in 1968. Visitors interested in the area will find both a geological feature and traces of a historic excursion culture here.

The observation tower on Palellusvuori offers a different perspective. Built between 2018 and 2022, it opened to the public on 30 April 2022 and offers expansive views. The nearby area therefore offers different landscape experiences side by side: esker formations and a viewpoint. When choosing where to go, you can consider whether you are more interested in the geological landscape or the view from above.

Farms, exhibitions, and regional history

Heikintupa is a farmstead in Pohjaslahti dating from 1850. The Heikintupa Museum displays historic objects and buildings from the surrounding area. The Heikintupa complex also includes a granary from 1880, a threshing barn and a horse-powered treadwheel from the 19th century, and a hay barn from the early 20th century. The different building types and dates give the site several historical layers.

Heikintupa is also the setting for an annual Midsummer celebration, organised by Pohjaslahti-Seura on the Sunday of Midsummer weekend. The date is therefore tied to the holiday weekend rather than a fixed calendar date. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, this timing is useful to know.

Vehkaniemen tila tells a different story of farm life. The history of the old family farm goes back to around the mid-16th century, or possibly even earlier. The buildings in the farm complex are open to groups by prior request and arrangement. This visit requirement is a practical distinction from the historical sites in the area that can be explored without a prior arrangement: a visit to the farm should be arranged in advance.

The old parish granary has also taken on a new role. It was restored through volunteer work and dedicated as Riihikappeli in 2004. The Pohjaslahti Church, in turn, was designed by architect Kauno Kallio and completed in 1931. These two places show different ways in which historic buildings continue to live on in regional memory.

Church route and mill site

Pohjaslahti Church is a stop on the Pohjaslahden mobiilireitti, a narrative scenic route in the village of Pohjaslahti. This allows church architecture and the history of a landscape route to be explored as distinct cultural themes, rather than treating them as a single destination.

Kangaskosken myllymuseo is located at Kangaskoski in Salmentakanen. A path circles the millpond, and a wooden bridge leads from the mill across the rapids to a lean-to shelter. The mill site combines a museum with specific landscape features by the water. Its focus is different from that of the farms and churches: here, the mill, pond, and rapids take centre stage.

Tailor your stay to your interests

When looking for a hotel in Innala, you can first consider which themes you want your stay to focus on: the Ice Age eskers and observation tower, the historic farms, or the churches and mill sites. This can help you choose the right place to stay without prescribing a single itinerary for all travellers. If you plan to visit Vehkaniemen tila, remember that group visits must be arranged in advance.

Frequently asked questions about Innala

What types of landscapes can you find around Innala?

Near Pohjaslahti, Salussärkkä and Rantalansärkkä are esker formations surrounded by water. They belong to the same Ice Age formation; Rantalansärkkä lies a few kilometres north of Salussärkkä.

What is historically notable about Salussärkkä?

Salussärkkä was once a popular excursion destination, regularly visited by members of the estates. It was designated a nature reserve in 1968 and is also known as “Pikku-Punkaharju”.

How are visits to Vehkaniemen tila organised?

Groups can visit the farm complex buildings by prior request and arrangement. The farm's history goes back to around the mid-16th century, or possibly even earlier.

What can you discover at Heikintupa?

The farmstead in Pohjaslahti dates from 1850; the museum displays historic objects and buildings from the surrounding area. The complex also includes several agricultural buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

What paths and features are there at Kangaskosken myllymuseo?

A path circles the millpond. A wooden bridge leads from the mill across the rapids to a lean-to shelter.

For the wider travel overview: Mänttä.