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Region of Finland
Photo: Heikki Immonen, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
South Savonia (Etelä-Savo) is a province in the Finnish Lakeland.
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The route traverses the entire region. It is an official tourist route in Southern Savo and runs from Mäntyharju to Punkaharju through Ristiina, Puumala, Sulkava and Savonlinna. The route winds through exceptionally beautiful landscapes and allows visitors to admire the area's rich cultural heritage, which has been strongly linked to the forest throughout history. There are several wonderful places to visit and visitors can also enjoy a wide range of services, products and events provided by local entrepreneurs along the route.
By train
South Savonia's major cities are all well-served by rail, although you may need to change trains in Kouvola. Savonlinna is via Parikkala by IC trains destined to Joensuu.
By bus
South Savonia has good bus connections from neighbouring provinces and even from farther away. See Matkahuolto.
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Savonlinna · Regional · SVL
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the largest city in the region, after mergers it includes:
Suomenniemi is a former municipality in South Karelia. Suomenniemi is surrounded by Lake Kuolimojärvi, and in some places also Saimaa.
major rail junction
the northernmost remaining medieval stone castle, a famous opera festival and scenic views of Lake Saimaa
A village with what is believed to the largest wooden church in the world, built in the mid-19th century to hold 3000 seats.
The famous national landscape Punkaharju Esker and the most popular nature recreation area in Southern Savonia.
Village at the border of Savonia and Karelia in the midst of stunning lakes. Genuine rural life of Savonia at its best.
Enonkoski is a municipality in South Savonia, Finland. It is the smallest in the region both in terms of area and population.
Hirvensalmi is a town and municipality in South Savonia.
Juva is a town and municipality in South Savonia.
Kangasniemi is a town and municipality in South Savonia.
Mäntyharju is a town and municipality in South Savonia.
Pertunmaa is a former municipality in South Savonia, Finland, today part of the Mäntyharju municipality.
Puumala is a town and municipality in South Savonia, right in the middle of Lake Saimaa.
Rantasalmi is in South Savonia, in the Finnish Lakeland, Finland.
Sulkava is a town and municipality in the South Savonia region of Finland, surrounded by Lake Saimaa and divided in two parts by Lake Saimaa's main watercourse, between the main Saimaa basin and Pihjalavesi. Like much of South Savonia, Sulkava is a summer cottage region: the municipality is said to double its population during the holiday season.
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