oulu & its environs
Oulu and its 10 nearby municipalities make up the
Oulu region.
www.ouka.fi/ouluseutu
Come and visit. There’s plenty to do and see, a
great atmosphere and comfortable accommodations
available. The Oulu region has enough things to
explore for a whole month, but go ahead and start
getting to know the region by visiting the following
sites.
Kierikki Stone Age Center
A while ago, or rather 7,000 years ago, somebody
thought it’d be a good idea to settle at the Oulu
region.
Not a bad choice, we might add! Around 60 kilometres
north of Oulu, on the northern shore of Iijoki, is
the Kierikki Stone Age Centre and the Stone Age
village, right in the middle of a vast stone age
living region. Finland’s largest prehistoric and
cultural history centre’s permanent exhibition
showcases discovered objects and research history of
the region.
At the nearby Stone Age Village you can see how
people used to live during the stone age. At the
ancient fishing camp you’ll find out how people used
to fish. There’re also a restaurant, hotel and
meeting rooms at the Kierikki Centre.
www.kierikki.fi/sivu/en/kierikkikeskus/
Hailuoto
Since Hailuoto means “Shark Isle,” children often
wonder if there’re real sharks there. And we keep
telling them that no, there’re not. Right?
The Bay of Bothnia’s largest Island, Hailuoto, is
located around 50 kilometres from Oulu. The ferry
trip takes about 25 minutes. In wintertime you can
also use the ice road for parts of the year.
Hailuoto is a popular recreational place with 600
summer cottages in addition to the permanent
population of around 1,000 people. Due to its
beautiful nature, Hailuoto has been named as one of
Finland’s National Landscapes. The lighthouse of
Marjanimi, the fisher village, the wind mills, and
of course the magnificent sandy beaches and
landscapes are among the top destinations of people
visiting Hailuoto.
www.hailuototourism.fi/sivu/en/matkailu/hailuoto/
NOTE! Tourist office open in Marjaniemi from June to August. Tel: 040 576 9800, Email: matkailuneuvonta@hailuoto.fi
Photo: Jari Peltomäki
Bay of Liminka
Have you ever seen a swan or a sea eagle in
nature? In the Bay of Liminka, a bird watcher’s
paradise, you just might.
The Bay of Liminka is Finland’s most valuable bird
area and on an international scale, a significant
bird gathering area. During the best times of the
year, tens of thousands of birds are in the area
resting, nesting and feeding. These visitors include
everything from waders to swans and sea eagles, and
quite a few threatened bird species as well.
Kinkerikartanot Mansions
How did they treat the bishop at the manse? At
the Kinkerikartanot mansions you’ll get a glimpse of
this festive feeling.
Kinkerikartanot, the Kinkeri Mansions, is a group of
Northern Ostrobothnian countryside travel agencies.
It includes the Helmen Pirtti cabin, the Merilän
Kartano mansion, the Törmälä farm house and the
rural mansion Pihkala.
www.utajarvi.com/kinkerikartanot/sivu/
Escurial Zoo and Flowerpark
Donkeys, ponies, pigs, turkeys, emus, rheas,
peacocks, you name it! The Escurial Zoo and
Flowerpark has nearly 300 animal inhabitants these
days. In addition to the animals, there’s also a
greenhouse that sells seedlings of annuals and
perennials. We always also offer some new and rare
plants in addition to the familiar seedlings you’ve
come to expect.
The park’s interesting animals and excellent
services are sure to guarantee a successful trip.
The Escurial has been operating in Tyrnävä since
1987.
www.kukka-jaelainpuistoescurial.fi
Virpiniemi
Virpiniemi is an area full of hills and hollows.
Living on the sea shore, we’re used to flat ground,
and that’s completely unlike Virpiniemi. It’s an
area of beautiful hills and landscapes. An excellent
place for a wintry skiing trip or a golf game on a
summer day.
www.virpiniemi.fi/liikuntaopisto/virpiniemi_sport_institute/
Koiteli
Many people have wondered about where Koiteli got
its name. We can be rather sure that it’s originally
from a Sami language word meaning “the one in the
middle.” The greatest sight at Koiteli is the
region’s nature itself. The landscape gets its
beauty from the special features of the river beds,
rapids, islands, beaches and other nature.
The shore cliffs of Koiteli, its islands and bridges
make it a diverse camping area where getting around
is easy and rewarding.
www.koiteli.fi
CONTACT US
P.O. Box 1
FI-90015 Oulun kaupunki, Finland
