The Finnish town of Mikkeli (Swedish St Michel), chief town of the province of the same name, lies on one of the western arms of Lake Saimaa. There were human settlements in this area more than a thousand years ago, and the first Christian community in the Savo region was established here, as the little stone sacristy of Savilahti's wooden medieval church still bears witness.
The village of St Michel was granted the right to hold a market in 1745 and received its municipal charter in 1838. In 1843 it became the chief town of the province and in 1945 the see of a bishop.
A garrison town from the 17th century, it played a military role in the 20th century as the headquarters of Marshal Mannerheim in three campaigns during the Second World War (the Winter War of 1939-40, the renewed war of 1941-44 against Soviet forces and the Lapland War of 1944-45 against the German occupying forces) - events commemorated by the Cross of Freedom and the marshal's batons in the town's coat of arms.
A secondary school was established in Mikkeli in 1872. In the second half of the 19th century, with the development of industry, the town's economy made great strides. Its principal industries are woodworking, textiles and metalworking.
An observation tower on Naisvuori Hill in Mikkeli is located on a rocky outcrop and visitors can climb the hill for a fee.
To the northeast of the center of Mikkeli, at the end of Porrasalmenkatu, is the stone-built sacristy (kivisakasti) of Savulahti church, a wooden building (1320) which was pulled down in the 18th century. The sacristy now houses a Church Museum.
Mikkeli is located in the heart of the Finnish lake district. Its pride is the Mariinski Theater, the main venue of the Mikkeli International Music Festival.
Once dubbed the world's leading opera house by Placido Domingo, the theater is the annual venue for orchestras, choirs and soloists that make up the Mikkeli Music Festival.
The festival includes both Finnish and internationally-acclaimed artists, and takes place in early July.
Address: Mikkeli International Music Festival, Sointukatu 1, SF-50100 Mikkeli, Finland
Kenkävero is the largest wooden vicarage in Finland which dates back 550 years. The stone cowshed main building contains a gallery and farmhand's quarter. Visitors can watch live demonstrations and participate in workshops.
Address: Kenkävero, Pursialankatu 6, SF-50100 Mikkeli, Finland
Hours:
10am-6pm; Sat:10am-4pm
Tips: Open by appointment at other times.
Groups should make reservations in advance.
In the center of Mikkeli, on the hill of Naisvuori (open-air theater in summer), stands a lookout tower from which there are fine panoramic views. Indoor swimming pool hewn from the rock. Nearby is the interesting Headquarters Museum.
The brick-built Mikkeli Cathedral (1897) has an altarpiece (ca. 1900) by Pekka Halonen (Christ crucified, with the Virgin and St John); stained glass over the altar.
In the center of Mikkeli are the Museum of Art (20th century painting, sculpture), the provincial government offices (by C. L. Engel, 1843) and the Town Hall (1912).
The permanent Martti Airio collection features Finnish paintings that date from the 1870s to the 1980s, furniture, oriental carpets and small decorative arts.
Address: Mikkeli Museum of Art, Ristimäenkatu 5, SF-50100 Mikkeli, Finland
Hours:
June 25 to June 21: 10am-5pm; Wed:12pm-7pm; Sat:10am-1pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), 15th of Shaaban - 12th Iman's Birthday - Muslim
Tips: Closed between exhibitions, and also on December 12. In winter (October-April) Fridays free admission.
On the west side of Mikkeli stands the rural parish church (1816), a large wooden building in a style characteristic of eastern Finland, on a double cruciform plan, which can accommodate a congregation of 2,000.
6km/4mi south of Mikkeli on Road 13 is the narrow sound of Porrassalmi, and 18km/11mi beyond this, at Ristiina, are the ruins of Brahelinna, a castle begun by Per Brahe but never completed. The church at Ristiina, built by Eskil Collenius, a Karelian architect, in 1775, contains portraits of Per Brahe and his wife.
Near the Mikkeli parish church, in a converted granary at Otavankatu 11, is the Suur-Savo District Museum (history and ethnology of the Suur-Savo district).
Address: Suur-Savo Museum, Otavankatu 11, SF-50130 Mikkeli, Finland
Hours:
May 2 to August 31: 10am-5pm; Sat:2pm-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
September 1 to April 30: 10am-5pm; Sat:2pm-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
Outside Mikkeli, to the north, is the Visulahti tourist center, with a wax museum, a motor museum and Miniland (scaled-down models of Finnish buildings).
There is also a waterpark and bungalows available to rent.
Address: Visulahti Tourist Office, Visulahdenkatu 1, SF-50180 Mikkeli, Finland
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Mikkeli Cathedral, Mikkeli
Mikkeli Cathedral, Mikkeli
