Tölvä Village – History, Sights & Canoeing Routes
Three Paddling Routes from Nurmiranta in Tölvä Village
From Nurmiranta in the village of Tölvä, you can choose between three paddling routes: 1. Lake Route North – Paddle north along the sheltered shores of Lake Onkivesi via Koivuniemi to Väärni Harbour in Lapinlahti. The route is approximately 21 km long. 2. River Route East – Head east along the Naarvanjoki River, first to Lake Ala-Naarvanjärvi and then along the river to Lake Ylä-Naarvanjärvi until you reach the Naarvankoski rapids. The route is approximately 10 km long. 3. Lake Route West – Paddle first to the tip of Tölvänniemi and then towards Raposaari Island. The island has a canoe landing dock, a lean-to shelter with a campfire site, a bio toilet, and firewood available in a woodshed. The route is approximately 4 km long. Raposaari is an excellent place to rest, make coffee over an open fire, grill sausages, and admire the beautiful Lake Onkivesi scenery. From Raposaari, it is also safe to paddle around Kaijansaari Island, explore Kaijanlahti Bay, and land near the Kaijansaari bridge to visit the round-shaped ecumenical Art Chapel on foot. This extended route is approximately 5 km long.
Download the map (in Finnish)
Kaijansaari Art Chapel, Kaijansaarentie 170
The chapel is always open and free to visit, according to its builder and owner Pentti Koistinen. Visitors may also request a guided presentation (€4/person). Contact: Pentti Koistinen, tel. +358 40 594 6589, email: kaijansaari@jippii.fi Visitors can support the chapel’s maintenance with a voluntary donation placed in the collection box inside the chapel.
Tölvä Village Summer Oasis – Nurmiranta, Jokiniementie 54 b
The Nurmiranta summer area is open for everyone to enjoy. The facilities include a sandy beach, changing sheds, a dry toilet, a covered campfire shelter with firewood available, a boat launch, and a pier.
Memorial Plaque at the Birthplace of Paavo Ruotsalainen, Kaijansaarentie 2 (location of Tölvä marketplace)
Paavo (Påhl Henrik) Ruotsalainen, founder of the Lutheran revival movement known as herännäisyys (“awakening”), was born in Paavola, Tölvänniemi, on 9 July 1777. His birthplace was located in this yard, and he lived in Tölvänniemi until the age of ten, when his father moved the family to Varpaisjärvi. The memorial plaque was unveiled on 25 May 1977 during the Awakening Festival celebrations in Lapinlahti, marking the 200th anniversary of his birth. The plaque was commissioned by the Lapinlahti parish, and the unveiling speech was given by Bishop Paavo Kortekangas. Psalm 118:17: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”
Little Paavo Trail
The “Little Paavo Trail,” inspired by Paavo Ruotsalainen, is signposted in today’s Tölvä landscape. The route begins at the road junction known as Tölvä marketplace and offers two options: To Kaijansaari Chapel and back, total 3.3 km To Nurmiranta and back, total 4 km The routes are shown on the map at the Tölvä info board and marked with ribbons or painted symbols on poles, trees, and rocks.
Cows in the Rural Landscape
There are still dairy cows in Tölvä today. Along Tölväntie (road 459), visitors can see the cows of the Jussila dairy farm. Please do not feed the animals.