Kalevala

Kalevala (Russian: Калевала) is a picturesque historical village on the northern shore of Lake Sredneye Kuyto, at the mouth of the Ukhta River, in Karelia in northwestern Russia. in 2023, it was home to 3,400 people.

The city is the administrative centre of Kalevala region, with a population of 5,900 in 2023.

Residential house in Kalevala

The town and region used to be named Uchta (Karelian: Uhtuo, Russian: Ухта). The region changed its name to Kalevala in 1935, for the centenary of the Kalevala epic.

In the area of the current village, the famous Finnish folklorist Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century recorded many runes that were included in the world famous Karelian-Finnish epic “Kalevala”.

The Kalevala bus station is connected by a bus route from Petrozavodsk, Kemya, and Borovoy. As of 2020, the bus runs once a day, three times a week; the journey takes ½ hours, and arrives in Kalevala late in the evening.

By car, take the road P21 (E105) "Kola" St. Petersburg–Murmansk. Then there will be a turn onto the A135 highway to Kalevala. The turn is indicated by a pointer.

• Kalevala National Local Lore Municipal Museum was opened in 1999 as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first complete edition of the Karelian-Finnish epic "Kalevala".
• 🌍 House of Engineer Moberg (Дом инженера Моберга), ul. Lenina, 8. Built in 1906 and in the 1920s. reconstructed The only surviving building of this type in the northern regions of Karelia. Tours of the house are conducted in Russian and Finnish. (updated Dec 2020)
• 🌍 Lönnrot's Pine (Сосна Лённрота), ul. Väinemöinen. This tree, or rather its trunk, is one of the main attractions of the village. Near the tree, Elias Lönnrot, who later created the epic Kalevala, wrote down runes. According to legend, the Kalevala people sang runes under it. (updated Dec 2020)
• 🌍 Church of Peter and Paul (Церковь Петра и Павла), ul. P. Remshueva. Wooden church. Architect Jarri Helmisaari. It is not always open, but if you are lucky, you can see the iconostasis inside. (updated Dec 2020)
• 🌍 Runopevtsev Museum (Музей Рунопевцев), ul. Väinämöinen 1A. The museum was opened in 1984 in the memorial house of folk storyteller Maria Remshu. Among the exhibits are memorial items from the storytellers of the Kalevala region. (updated Dec 2020)

Among the souvenirs, it is worth paying attention to products made from birch bark: bread bins, salt shakers, bags, kessels and baskets. You can buy kitchen utensils, plates and mugs, pillows, linen tablecloths and towels. There are special bags that are decorated with Karelian embroidery, as well as keychains, photo frames and dolls, which are often bought as amulets.

• 🌍 Souvenir shop of the ethnocultural center “Kalevalatalo” (Сувенирная лавка этнокультурного центра «Калевалатало»), ul. Lenina, 8. A souvenir shop where you can purchase a variety of goods that reflect the life of the inhabitants of Kalevala. (updated Dec 2020)

• 🌍 Hotel VelT (Отель ВелТ), ul. Sovetskaya, 28A. The hotel is located on the shore of Lake Sredneye Kuyto. There is a sauna and free Wi-Fi, a restaurant. (updated Dec 2020)
• 🌍 Hotel "Sampo" (Отель «Сампо»), ul. Sadovaya, 3. You can order a transfer from and to the airport. There is free Wi-Fi. The rooms have TVs with satellite channels. Breakfast is a buffet. (updated Dec 2020)