Muhola Between Lakes and Village History

Muhola combines a hilly, field-dominated landscape with small lakes and a rich village history. If you choose a destination not only for its natural scenery but also for the stories of its settlements, you’ll find both here: water and open countryside, as well as traces of early settlement and present-day village life.

Muhola at a Glance

• The regionally significant Muhola landscape area covers 1,082 hectares.
• The landscape is hilly and mostly open; many areas were cleared for fields.
• The small lakes include Häähköjärvi, Valkeinen and Lapinjärvi.
• Settlement in Muhola began in the 1560s, when Paavo Muhonen established a farm in the area of today’s Jokela farmstead.
• Muttiteatteri stages plays in summer; the program and dates vary.

Hills, Fields and Small Lakes

The landscape area gives Muhola a distinct character: hills alternate with mostly open land cleared for fields. The small lakes add a different dimension. Häähköjärvi, Valkeinen and Lapinjärvi are part of the area; Häähköjärvi drains via the Häähköjoki into Häähkölahtea Bay on Lake Kivijärvi.

The vegetation is another distinguishing feature. The influence of the lake district makes vegetation in Muhola more lush than in the Suomenselkä region proper. This means that, within a compact landscape area, open, field-dominated land meets the influence of the lake district. When planning your trip, consider a practical question: Are you most drawn to the open countryside, or would you also like to explore the lakes and the watercourse between them?

Settlement History and Village Culture

The history of settlement here began in the 1560s. At that time, Paavo Muhonen, from Savo, established his farm in the area of today’s Jokela farmstead, on former hunting grounds of the Häme region. The early routes also played a part in the area’s development: as well as the waterways, the ridge running through Muhola was one of the important routes of the time.

Muholan mökkikylä is located near the village center. The name may bring to mind holiday cottages, but the settlement was established in the early 20th century as a residential area for small farmers, craftspeople and people on low incomes. It illustrates a rare settlement of cottagers and tenant farmers that is significant from a social history perspective, and it is also an important feature of the village’s landscape. More than 60 stone artefacts from the village area, covering six square kilometres, were taken to a museum. These finds add an archaeological record from the wider village area to the story of later settlement.

Muttiteatteri is part of the village’s cultural life today. It is a professionally directed amateur theatre that has been active in the village for more than ten years. It stages plays in summer; productions and dates vary. The old village school, built of log planks, is also part of community life: it belongs to the Muholaseura association and serves as a multipurpose building with suitable spaces for larger events.

Choosing Muhola as a Destination

When choosing a destination, you can weigh two interests in Muhola: the combination of hills, fields and lakes, or the village and settlement history with its cultural connections. This can also help with your accommodation search if you first decide which themes you want to shape your stay. If Muhola is one of several destinations you’re considering, you can compare other options on their own pages: Kajaani, Rutalahti, Lannevesi, Oulunsalo, Petäjävesi, Jyväskylä, Multia and Joutsa.

Frequently Asked Questions About Muhola

What characterizes Muhola’s landscape?

The landscape area covers 1,082 hectares and is hilly, mostly open and dominated by fields. It also includes small lakes; the influence of the lake district is evident in the lusher vegetation compared with the Suomenselkä region proper.

Which lakes are part of the landscape area?

The lakes named are Häähköjärvi, Valkeinen and Lapinjärvi. Häähköjärvi drains via the Häähköjoki into Häähkölahtea Bay on Lake Kivijärvi.

What stories do the settlement and village tell?

Settlement began in the 1560s with Paavo Muhonen’s farm in the area of today’s Jokela farmstead. Muholan mökkikylä recalls the living conditions of small farmers, craftspeople and people on low incomes in the early 20th century.

What cultural connections are there?

Muttiteatteri stages plays in summer, with the program and dates varying. The old log-plank village school building serves as a multipurpose building for the Muholaseura association and offers suitable spaces for larger events.

For the wider travel overview: Central Finland.