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Kajaani is one of those node cities, you can get from/to any other important city in Finland in the same day, by train or bus.
The train and bus stations are on the same area, a few blocks apart from each other. Theme: Train
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The ruins of Kajaani castle is the last medieval style fortification in the Nordic countries. Unlike its central European counterparts, it is not a royal or aristocratic castle, but its purpose was to protect Northern Ostrobothnia from Russians and oversee movements on the inland waterway. It also functioned as an administrative centre and a prison. The castle was built in 1604 on an island in the middle of Kajaaninjoki River.
The original drawings of the castle comprised a rectangular ring wall surrounding the castle yard, with round cannon towers on either side. The most famous inmate in the castle was historian, Johannes Messenius, who was charged with conspiracy in the Catholic Counter Reformation and lived in the castle from 1616 to 1635. During this, he wrote Scandia Illustrata, the history of the Nordic countries.
In 1950 Count Per Brahe ordered a second construction stage of the castle, which was completed in 1666. During this, many wooden structures of the castle were replaced with stone structures to form a fortress.
In 1716, Russian invaders surrounded the castle for several weeks. The 50 odd men defending the castle were forced to surrender due to lack of food, firewood and ammunition. They became prisoners of war in Russia and the invaders blew up the castle. The castle was restored to Sweden under the Treaty of Nystad in 1721.
Although conservation has been carried on periodically since the 1880s, the ruins have suffered serious damage and need urgent repairs. In addition, the locals started using the stones as foundations for their houses. Another drag about the ruins is that they are located underneath a concrete bridge that is commonly used by cars. Although there have been proposals to ban cars on the bridge, nothing concrete has happened yet.
A few years ago, the city of Kajaani and the National Board of Antiquities launched a development project for the ruins. The aim is to restore the ruins and make the surrounding area more attractive to visitors and residents alike. Address: Along the river Kajaaninjoki
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The Railway Station of Kajaani was built between 1904 and 1905, when the railway tracks where extended all the way from the town of Iisalmi (100km to the south of Kajaani) to the remote town of Kajaani. The building was designed by architect Karl Gustaf Nyström (1856-1917), who was the last significant representative of academic Neo-Renaissance in Finland.
His main works in Helsinki are the National Archives of Finland, the House of Estates, the Union Bank, the customs warehouse and the market hall in the South Harbour. In addition, he designed buildings for the University of Helsinki and two branches of the Bank of Finland to Viipuri and Turku, where he also designed an art museum.
On the initiative of Gustaf Nyström work was began at the turn of the 20th century to make measuring drawings of historical monuments, starting with Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral. Nyström's teaching work and his preference of authentic materials had a crucial role in the breakthrough of National Romanticism in Finland.
Kajaani railway station has been said to be the most beautiful railway station in Finland, and it is under a special protection culturally and historically. The building was fully renovated a few years back and houses several original features such as the tall fireplaces that reach the sealing. There is also a waiting room, a small cafe and ticket office. Address: Asemakatu 1, 87100 Kajaani
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This picturesque wooden church was built in 1726. It houses highly valuable wall and ceiling paitings from the late 18th Century. The paintings were created by Emanuel Granberg. Over the years the paintings have suffered substantial damage caused by the leaking roof and have had to been restored twice in 1851 and between 1937-1942.
One of the best preserved paintings by Granberg portrays 'The Last Judgement'. It is located above the main entrance. The top part illustrates the joys of Heaven and the bottom the misery of Hell. A substantial part of the bottom bit was, however, painted over or completely removed most probably during the initial conservation of the original paintings in 1851, because it is thought that the female members of the communion found the pictures highly upsetting and allegedly some even fainted due to the shock and horror. ;-)
The painting in the front of the church at the altar was painted by Margareta Capsia. It depicts 'The Holy Communion' and it has been in the church since 1727.
The church has a seating for 800 people. There is no electricity or heating in the church. Regular services are usually organised in Summer as well as Christmas.
The church is open daily between 10am and 6pm from 21 May to 26 August 2007. On any other times, please contact Kajaani Info tel. +358 (0)8-615 52555 and ask for a guide. Address: Paltaniementie 851, 87850 PALTANIEMIDirections: You will see the church from miles away
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In December 2006, I was visiting my parents in Kajaani and one morning I was browsing through the local news paper when I saw an article about a German guy and his Ukrainian fiance who live in Berlin. They were posing in front of the old town hall in the freezing weather, the girl was holding a bunch of flowers and was all dressed up in white. They had got married in the old town hall of Kajaani just a few moments before the photo was taken... Okay, I'm sure there are other more exotic places to tie the knot as well, but good for them.. Or perhaps good for Kajaani, right?
It turns out that the old town hall that always seemed so empty as if nothing was going on in there when I was a kid (the truth is nothing was going on between 1985 and 1990!) is nowadays is used civil weddings and small events. Although the building's location is very central, it seems slightly out of place. The town centre is a bizarre mix of a row of low rise buildings housing shops, banks and restaurants as well as a few high rise blocks of flats. When I was a kid the building used to be green, but it was painted with a sort of sandy-burnt yellow paint in 1990 during a complete restoration. Not the pretties choice of color, in my opinion, but the building itself is rather pretty. It is a small wood-built Cowrl-House and serves as a remarkable memorial to the craft building. It was was designed by a German architect Carl Ludvig Engel and built in 1831.
Carl Ludvig Engel (1778-1840) is known for his neo-classical (empire) style. His most noted works works include the buildings surrounding the Senate Square in Helsinki including the Cathedral, the Palace of the Council of State (formerly The Senate), the main building of Helsinki University and the University library. Address: Town centre
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The Evangelic-Lutheran church in Kajaani is one of the finest examples of the new Gothic architectural movement, which originated in mid-18th century England. It was completed in about a year and it was consecrated the same year, in 1896.
The church is entirely made out of wood. It was designed by a Finnish architect Jacob Ahrenberg (1847-1914), who is one of the most notable designers of this particular style in Finland. Other significant creations of his include Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge, Kotka (1889) (built for Alexander III, emperor of Russia and Grand Duke of Finland), the renovation and redecoration of the Finnish Prime Minister's Official Residence, Kesäranta (1904), two new reception rooms within the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, including The Hall of State (previously the Throne Room) (1907), Synagoga of Helsinki (1906), several churches, schools and garrison buildings.
The altar piece in the Evagelic-Lutheran church of Kajaani portrays Jesus and Saint Peter. It was painted by a local artist T.G. Tuhkanen in 1925. He is best known of paintings portraying the region and its residents.
The church was repainted and renovated inside in Autumn 2006. It is now much lighter and airier than it was previously.
Opening times June-August, Monday to Sunday 10:00-20:00
Other times by arrangement with "Kajaani Info", tel. +358 8 61552555.
The Info guides speak English, Finnish, German and Swedish.
Free admission Address: Kirkkokatu, 87100 Kajaani
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Purola is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Kajaani. It is located on the south side of the river, next to pond “Kaupunginlampi” (the Town Pond). Its neighbour in the East is Puistola, another suburb with mainly detached wooden houses from the 1950s, and in West on Tihisenniemi peninsula alongside the river UPM-Kymmene paper and sawmill that have been functioning in Kajaani since 1907.
Initially, the detached houses in Purola were occupied mainly by the staff of the paper and sawmill. The old Mansard roofed houses remain from that time. Although erroneously spelled, they are named after a French architect François Mansart who revived the interest in this style that had been characteristic of French Renaissance architecture. A mansard roof has two slopes on each of the four sides. The lower slope is steeper than the upper slope, which is usually not visible from the ground. Such roofs make maximum use of the interior space of the attic and is considered a practical way for adding a storey to an existing building. For this reason, older buildings were often remodelled with mansard roofs.
Under the influence of the Neo-baroque revival, the mansard became a common feature in many late 19th century buildings in Europe and North America. The houses in Puistola are most likely from the early 20th century although it is often difficult to specify the exact age of old buildings, since many of them have been renovated at different times.
The town plan in Puistola differs from the rest of the town. There are three U-shaped streets that dominate the area. Nowadays the area is mainly residential with quaint wooden detached houses.
Walk along ‘Sissikatu’ once you reach the park on the side of the Town Pond. Bear left to the take and keep on walking until you reach the first U-shaped street, ‘Lamminkatu’. Turn right and keep on going until you reach ‘Makkolankatu’. Turn right again and walk back to the town passing the paper and saw mill along ‘Tehdaskatu’. Address: Lamminkatu - Makkolankatu
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Outside Kajaani, in the countryside of Vuolijoki, the museum of Local History shows how local people lived during the last centuries.
The museum offers some houses, an old sauna a windmill and other buldings. The interiors are rebuilt as it was in the past, with authentical objects collected from the local people.
It is a small museum with not many visitors, so be prepared that the guide speaks only finnish and even then not much. But it is interesting anyway. Leave a Comment Address: Kuusirannantie 67Phone: 6885104Directions: Vuolijoki
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The main square is the center of the City where most of the activities are going on. Here you find also some nice bars and restaurants. Leave a Comment Directions: City center
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Kajaani castle was built in 17th century. First stage of Kajaani castle construction was 1604-1619. Second stage began 1650s and finished 1666. Builder of second stage was Count Peter Brahe. Castle functioned as a governing centre, prison and refuge for locals during times of persecution.
Nowadays there are only roofless walls left of the castle. It is still worth of visiting while staying in Kajaani. Directions: City centre
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on December 19, 2003
on November 22, 2007
on May 27, 2003
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