Kuusamo - Market Square

In the center of Kuusamo is the small market square (market on weekdays). Near the center stands the church (1951), with two bells which have an interesting history. In 1944 they were removed from the church by German troops and buried in the churchyard to save them from the advancing Soviet forces. Thereafter they were lost from sight until 1959, when the one-time commander of the regiment visited Kuusamo and produced a plan showing where the bells were hidden. The larger of the two bells was presented to the church by King Charles XI in 1698. The smaller one was a thanksgiving gift in 1721 from Protestant clergymen who had found a refuge in Kuusamo during the wars of 1700-21.