Kivijärvi: Church, parks and active discoveries

Kivijärvi combines distinctive church architecture and local history with parks, beaches and a wide range of sports facilities. The present-day church has a floor plan unusual for a Neo-Gothic building; other highlights include a local history museum in a former granary and leisure spots with very different features. For families, notable options include a playground and a disc golf course explicitly described as a family activity. If you’re looking for accommodation, you can plan your trip around whether culture, exercise or activities on the water are your priority.

Kivijärvi at a glance: five highlights

• The present-day, third church was completed in 1874 and consecrated in 1875.
• The local history museum is housed in a former granary on Pappilantie.
• Kirsikkapuisto has a 12-hole mini golf course.
• Peltokangas Sports Park has a three-kilometre fitness and cross-country ski trail.
• Kivijärvi’s cross-country ski trail network covers 55 kilometres; usability depends on snow conditions and maintenance.

Church, church village and local history

Kivijärvi’s present-day, third church was completed in 1874 and consecrated the following year. Its history can therefore be tied to two specific dates. Its architectural style is also distinctive: the church is Neo-Gothic and has an equal-armed cross-shaped floor plan, which is unusual for Neo-Gothic churches. The arms of the cross are all the same length; this floor plan gives the building an additional architectural feature alongside its style.

A guided presentation of the church can be arranged separately with the verger. This is useful to know when planning your visit if you’re interested not only in its exterior architecture but also in an explanation on site.

Kivijärvi Local History Museum is on Pappilantie, near Juurikkaharju Cemetery. It is housed in a former granary, one of the oldest buildings in the church village. The museum thus brings together several aspects: the building’s former use, its role in local history and its location in a particular part of the church village. Those interested in local history will find a different perspective here than they do when looking at the church: the historic building itself is part of the story of the place.

Parks and beaches with different features

Kirsikkapuisto brings together small discoveries in a compact setting: the park has a mini arboretum, a water feature and a monument commemorating the 150th anniversary of the municipality of Kivijärvi. There is also a 12-hole mini golf course. Nature-inspired landscaping, a water feature and a memorial stand alongside an activity in which the holes themselves shape your visit. Depending on your interests, you can enjoy a park visit as a short exploration or a round of mini golf, with no need to choose one over the other.

The beaches also offer different things to do. Kukkoniemi Beach has a beach volleyball court, a playground, a pier and a changing room. A family disc golf course opened at Nousulahti Beach in the centre in 2025. The explicitly family-oriented facility at Nousulahti and the playground at Kukkoniemi are concrete examples of activities that can be part of a family outing. The facilities clearly differ: Kukkoniemi combines beach activities with a playground and pier, while Nousulahti has its own activity focus with the disc golf course.

Active days at Peltokangas Sports Park

Peltokangas Sports Park offers several ways to stay active. A three-kilometre trail is designated for both fitness and cross-country skiing. A fitness staircase with 103 steps was also completed there in summer 2024. The trail and the staircase are two specific features of the sports park: one is described as a longer fitness and cross-country ski route, and the other as a climb with a set number of steps.

The sports park also has an 18-hole disc golf course. The tennis court has artificial turf and two courts. Activities mentioned there therefore range from a round of disc golf to tennis, as well as exercising on the trail or fitness staircase. If you’re travelling with children or want to accommodate different interests in your group, you can consider these activities separately when planning your day rather than treating them as a single sports offering.

The sports park also has a small ski slope. It is 130 metres long, with a vertical drop of 19 metres. These measurements give a concrete indication of the size of the facility; they do not indicate whether a lift is currently operating.

Ski trails, harbour and boating routes

Kivijärvi’s cross-country ski trail network covers 55 kilometres. For winter sports, this means a more extensive network than the three-kilometre fitness and cross-country ski trail at Peltokangas Sports Park. The figures describe two different offerings: a network of trails across the municipality and one trail in the sports park. Whether the trails are usable depends on snow conditions and maintenance. With a length of 130 metres and a vertical drop of 19 metres, the small ski slope at Peltokangas is another distinct winter option.

Kirkonkylä Harbour has 58 berths and 21 boat spaces. The figures refer to two different types of space and help convey the harbour’s capacity in each category. Marked boating routes are also available on Lake Kivijärvi in the municipality of Kivijärvi; the municipality is responsible for maintaining them. So, alongside land-based activities, the marked routes on the lake are another consideration when planning your trip.

Choose accommodation to suit your trip

When looking for hotels in Kivijärvi, a good starting point is deciding what you want from your stay. The church and local history museum offer specific themes for architecture and local history, while Peltokangas’s facilities, the beaches and the ski trails are options for staying active. If you’re planning a holiday with children, you can also consider the explicitly family-oriented activities and the playground.

Discover more destinations: Häkkilä, Oulunsalo, Vahanka, Äänekoski, Laukaa, Sumiainen, Luhanka and Kuhmoinen.

Frequently asked questions about Kivijärvi

What is special about Kivijärvi’s church?

The present-day, third church was completed in 1874 and consecrated in 1875. It is Neo-Gothic and has an equal-armed cross-shaped floor plan, which is unusual for Neo-Gothic churches.

How can I arrange a presentation of the church?

A guided presentation of the church can be arranged separately with the verger.

What can you discover at Kirsikkapuisto?

The park has a mini arboretum, a water feature and a monument commemorating the 150th anniversary of the municipality. There is also a 12-hole mini golf course.

What sports facilities are available at Peltokangas Sports Park?

They include a three-kilometre fitness and cross-country ski trail, a fitness staircase with 103 steps, a tennis court with artificial turf and two courts, and an 18-hole disc golf course.

What should cross-country skiers take into account?

Kivijärvi has a 55-kilometre cross-country ski trail network. Whether it is usable depends on snow conditions and maintenance; Peltokangas also has a 130-metre ski slope with a vertical drop of 19 metres.

For the main travel guide: Central Finland.