Tag Archive for: countryside

Autumn at Vanhalinna: Stone Age History Just Outside Turku

Just a short drive from Turku, a tall rock called Vanhalinna (‘Old Castle’) rises on the banks of the Aurajoki river amid rural scenery. Its grey, stony surface is a striking sight in the middle of the fields. This is one of the most significant ancient hillforts in Finland, and it is well worth climbing […]

Experience an Authentic Piece of Finnish Rural History: Spend a Night in a Hay Barn

I’ve never felt more like a modern city dweller than when I found myself standing in the doorway of a small hay barn in Suomussalmi. The barn is filled with fragrant, clean hay, piled over a meter high even at the end of summer, and I have no idea what to do next. How do […]