Vuoksi-Radweg

In the beginning on the route you pass bridges where you can watch over the dry riverbed and Imatra hydropower plant. After leaving bridges you pass Imatrakoski Church to the depot of Imatranajo motorbike races, and further on to Mansikkala, where Highway 6 and the railway bridges cross over Vuoksi. The white Culture House and dark City Hall of Imatra can be seen cycling past on the opposite shore of Vuoksi. After the bridges, you will find an apple orchard at the shore of Vuoksi, where there are trees that have been given names according to all the children from Imatra who were born in 2000 and 2001. The small St. Nicolai orthodox church and the Sacred water park in front of it tell about the orthodox tradition, and they are worth exploring.  Next you can make a stop and have a picnic at the shore of Neitsytniemi manor house, where a recreational area is located for fishermen and others.

We continue to the western shore of Vuoksi by crossing Tainiokoski bridge. There is a view to Saimaa, to the opening of Vuoksi when looking north from the bridge. On the left you will see the old riverbed of Tainokoski and a power plant. The industrialisation of the area of Imatra began in Torniokski, where there a lot of hydropower was necessary for industrial activities. Wooden thread pools were first manufactured. You can familiarise in the industrial history and the workers’ housing museum. The museum’s apartments represent housing over several decades from the beginning of the 1900s to the end of the 1960s.

The next cultural site on the route is Culture Centre Virta, where Imatra’s city museum, art museum and library, as well as Saimaa Geopark’s information centre and the Karelia hall are located. The art museum’s collection focuses on Finnish, particularly southwestern Finnish art, from the 1900s, where some is showcased. The museum also has temporary exhibitions. The city museum focuses on the history of Imatra.

Vuoksi Fishing Park shares the heritage of The Wuoksi Fishing Club, which was located in the same location at the end of the 1900s. At the Fishing Park, you can fish and dine. There, you can claim and hire fishing permits and equipment for independent fishing. Fishing programme services are also available at the guidance of a guide. There is a beach and Vuoksi sauna ferry’s port in the area of the Fishing Park. Hiljan Piha is nearby, where you can discover traditional rural buildings. The youngest members of the family will also enjoy Hiljan Piha, as farm animals visit the yard area during the summer.

The route finally heads back to Imatrankoski along Vuoksi’s embankment, and at the end you can stop to enjoy the atmosphere of Koskenparta’s promenade. To end the day, you can go and relax in the area of Rauha or Ukonniemi, where diverse spa, hotel and restaurant services await the cyclists.