Joensuu

Population

58,000

Description

Joensuu is a city in Eastern Finland, Finland. It hosts the European Forest Institute and other forestry research institutions. Thus the city is also often referred to as the Forest Capital of Europe.
Besides its beautiful Finnish nature and the nearby wilderness Joensuu also offers many cultural activities for visitors like the rock festival Ilosaarirock, the Joensuu Music Winter, the festival of visual culture Viscult, or gospel festivals.

History

In 1848 Joensuu was founded by the Czar Nicholas I of Russia in North Karelia. The city received dispensation rights to initiate commerce in 1860. The local sawmills and lumber industry began to prosper. The building of the Saimaa Canal in 1856 improved traffic and fostered commerce between the regions of North Karelia and St.Petersburg. Today, it is a vital center of the province Eastern Finland.

Sights

• Botania: The botanical Garden of the University of Joensuu is a beautiful place to visit and also offers other acitivities like hiking tours (see http://www.joensuu.fi/Botania/languages/entrance.html )
• North Karelian Museum
• Joensuu Bunker Museum in Marjala, 8 km from the city center
• Joensuu Art Museum
• Taitokortteli in the center of Joensuu is an arts and crafts quarter (see http://www.taitokortteli.fi/ )
• Ilosaarirock rock festival (see http://www.ilosaarirock.fi/ )

Tourist Information

Karelia Expert Tourist Service Ltd
Sales Manager Tarja Harinen
Phone +358 (0)50 349 6009
Fax +358 (0)13 123 933
http://www.kareliaexpert.fi/

Transportation

by plane: Joensuu Airport

Shopping

Sports/Activities

• In the Lykynlampi outdoor recreation area you can do walking, hiking, orienteering, swimming, and play volleyball or badminton.
• The Aquatic Centre Vesikko offers a 25 m pool, pools with slides and a wave machine, diving platforms, water massage, baby swimming, four saunas, and a gym as well as a café.

Clubs

Accommodation

Eating

Going out

Weblinks

• KareliaExpert tourist information
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joensuu
• Official website