Kempele: Trails, Church and Regional History

Trails, Culture and Landscapes in Kempele

Kempele combines a network of cycling and hiking trails with distinctive examples of architectural and everyday history. The nationally significant Limingan lakeus landscape area is also part of the picture: it lies in the south of Kempele. This gives you different options when planning your trip – active time on the trails, a look at distinctive church art, or insight into a typical farm in Northern Ostrobothnia.

Five Circular Routes in the Köykkyrin retkireitistö

The Köykkyrin retkireitistö trail network is 36 kilometres long and intended for cycling and hiking. It comprises five circular routes. If you would like to experience Kempele actively, you can first decide whether cycling or hiking will shape your outing, then choose one of the circular routes to explore. The five circular routes are part of the same trail network; the total length of 36 kilometres refers to the network.

Along the Köykkyrin retkireitistö, there are three campfire sites and Marjakammi, a place to rest. These named rest stops provide clear points of reference for a day out on the trails. The information about cycling and hiking makes the network appealing to travellers who want to include outdoor activity as a distinct part of their stay in Kempele.

The Old Church and Protected Heritage

Kempele Old Church is one of Finland’s 11 surviving valuable support-pillar churches. Its walls and vault feature wood paintings by Mikael Toppelius and Emanuel Granberg, created in 1785–1786 and 1795. The church can therefore be appreciated for more than its architectural style: its painted decoration is another distinctive feature for culture enthusiasts to look out for during a stay in Kempele.

The 26-metre-high tower of the Old Church once also served as a navigational aid for seafarers. This former function adds a historical connection to navigation on the water to the way the building is viewed today; it should be understood as a past use. Independently of this, Kirkonmäki in Kempele is protected under Finland’s Church Act. The church building, paintings, tower and protected status offer several distinct points of connection to the area’s history.

A Glimpse of a Farm in Northern Ostrobothnia

Kempele’s local heritage museum presents a typical farm in Northern Ostrobothnia. Those interested in regional everyday history will find a different perspective here than at the Old Church: the focus is on rural life, not church art. The museum’s distinctive features include Finland’s only soldiers’ house and its only turf hut. These two buildings also make a visit appealing to travellers specifically seeking unusual historic building types.

The Town Centre as a Point of Reference

Kempele railway station is located in the town centre at Asemantie 12. Its location provides a specific point of reference when planning your arrival. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Kempele, you can consider the town centre as one point of reference and also think about which focus best suits your trip: the trails, cultural history or the landscape area in the south. This way, your choice of where to stay can reflect your own plans without combining the different experiences into a single outing.

More Local Pages

More local pages in this overview: Ruka, Lankojärvi, Kärkölä, Nastola, Savilahti, Hankamäki, Pornainen and Hailuoto.

For the broader travel overview: Northern Ostrobothnia.