Parikkala is a rural municipality in South Karelia where the landscape is shaped by lakes, wetlands, cultivated fields and a history of borders that changed repeatedly. It is known for two very different experiences: the densely peopled sculpture garden created by Veijo Rönkkönen and the springtime spectacle of birds at Siikalahti. Between them lie small villages, local churches, forest trails and the broad waters of Simpelejärvi. The visitor who looks beyond the roadside attraction finds a place with a distinct agricultural rhythm and several layers of Karelian history.
A municipality of villages, farms and lakes
Statistics Finland recorded 4,235 residents in the municipality on 31 December 2025. Parikkala covers a broad rural area rather than a single compact town. Its municipal information describes a landscape of Simpelejärvi, Karjalan Pyhäjärvi, smaller lakes and wetland bays; the joined municipality also includes the former localities of Saari and Uukuniemi. The three communities merged with Parikkala on 1 January 2005, which helps explain why the municipality has three Lutheran churches and more than one village centre.
Agriculture remains a visible part of the local economy. The municipality’s business profile lists more than 400 companies, roughly 200 of them agricultural operators. Farming, food production, retail and local services sit alongside tourism rather than disappearing behind it. Simpelejärvi also supports fishing and boating, while visitor businesses offer accommodation, cafés, restaurants and outdoor activities. The commercial crossroads of highways 6 and 14 at Särkisalmi and the railway stop in Parikkala link this dispersed countryside to regional markets and travellers.
A borderland history grounded in records
Archaeological traces show that people lived in the area after the last Ice Age: the municipality records prehistoric settlement sites, hunting pits and tools. Later, Parikkala’s location between east and west brought repeated political change. The area was part of the Novgorod trading sphere before the Treaty of Stolbovo transferred it to Sweden in 1617. The 1721 Treaty of Nystad shifted the border again, bringing the region under Russian rule. In the nineteenth century it returned with the Viipuri Province to autonomous Finland. During the Winter War, parts of Parikkala, Saari and Uukuniemi were ceded to the Soviet Union.
These are documented shifts of jurisdiction, not a single uninterrupted founding story. The modern municipality took shape through the 2005 merger. For visitors, that history remains visible in the network of villages, churchyards and local heritage sites. Each former municipality kept its own church, and local guides also point to old schools, dairies, market places and memorials that make rural history legible at a human scale.
Veijo Rönkkönen’s sculpture garden
At Koitsanlahti, beside Highway 6 and about eight kilometres from the municipal centre, is Parikkala Sculpture Park, the life’s work of Veijo Rönkkönen. Over more than five decades he created more than 500 concrete figures and a lush garden around them. The works are mostly human figures, arranged in groups and poses; one section is known for its many yoga postures. Rather than a conventional sculpture collection in a gallery, this is an outdoor artwork in which plants, paths and figures share the same space.
The park is open throughout the year, but it has no lighting. A daytime visit makes it easier to see details and move safely among the paths. There is nearby parking, yet the park’s own visitor information warns that there is no local public transport from Parikkala railway station to Koitsanlahti; visitors arriving by train need to arrange a taxi or other ride. The setting near the highway makes it a convenient stop on a road journey, but it is worth allowing enough time to walk through the garden rather than treating it as a quick photo break.
Siikalahti: watch the wetland through the seasons
Siikalahti is the eastern, gradually overgrown bay of Lake Simpelejärvi and one of Finland’s most important inland bird wetlands. It attracts breeding birds as well as migrants, and the surrounding reed beds, shore meadows and fields create a habitat that changes markedly through the year. Spring migration is a highlight, while summer brings nesting birds and night-singing species. Wildlife sightings depend on season and conditions, so no particular bird or number can be promised.
A short nature trail of about 900 metres leads from the parking area to the Ripekesaari bird tower. The route includes both firm ground and boardwalk. The nature hut and the nearby viewing tower can be reached with a wheelchair or pushchair when accompanied by a helper; the cooking shelter in the yard is accessible. The trail is not maintained in winter, so check current conditions before setting out. Siikalahti is only about three kilometres from the centre, where visitors can find cafés, restaurants and other services.
More than one outdoor itinerary
Parikkala’s official visitor information lists around 80 kilometres of hiking routes and nature trails. The Harjujen route network connects the municipal centre with lakeside scenery and Sikoharju Nature Reserve; shorter paths around the shore are suitable for a quieter walk. Across the municipality, other bird towers overlook the bays of Pieni Rautjärvi, while forest paths, swimming places and berry-picking grounds offer alternatives to the two headline attractions. Conditions and maintenance vary, and some countryside destinations are easier to reach by car.
For a wider trip, the restored rapids of the Hiitolanjoki are in neighbouring Rautjärvi, not in Parikkala. There, the Kangaskoski, Lahnasenkoski and Ritakoski power structures were removed in stages between 2021 and 2023, reopening fish passage and restoring rapids. This is a separate excursion and should be planned with the neighbouring municipality’s visitor information. Other longer drives lead toward the Punkaharju ridge and Lusto, the Finnish Forest Museum, or to the towns of Imatra and Savonlinna.
Food, accommodation and a useful base
Parikkala’s visitor directory lists hotels, rural guesthouses, cafés and restaurants, as well as everyday services in the centre and at Särkisalmi. Local food is closely connected to the farms and lakes: the visitor guide highlights Karelian pastries and stew, vendace and other lake fish, berries and products from small producers. Menus and seasonal openings change, so check directly before travelling. Staying overnight makes it easier to visit Siikalahti at the quieter hours of dawn and dusk and to explore villages beyond the centre.
Arriving from nearby cities
Highway 6 crosses Parikkala on the Helsinki–Joensuu route, while highway 14 leads toward Savonlinna. Direct trains serve Parikkala from Helsinki, Joensuu and Savonlinna; current timetables should be checked with the operator. The visitor information gives approximate road distances of 70 kilometres from Imatra, 60 from Savonlinna and 100 from Lappeenranta. Savonlinna and Lappeenranta have the nearest airports. The railway station itself has limited facilities and no VR ticket office or ticket machine, so buy tickets ahead.
Public transport is useful for reaching the municipal centre, but the sculpture park and many rural trails require a local transfer. Visitors without a car should arrange a taxi or guided outing in advance, especially for Koitsanlahti. Parikkala works best as a slow stop: pair the sculpture garden with a lake walk, reserve a separate morning for birdwatching, and leave time for the villages and roads between them.