Pelkosenniemi Parish Village

The wooden church of Pelkosenniemi (1929) in Kauppaharju was saved from the destruction of the Lapland War. Architect Y. Sadenniemi designed the church. The altarpiece is a painting by Aale Hakava (1954). The Ethnographic Museum is located behind the church, and is open during the summer months. There is also a beach in the parish village. 

Around three kilometres from the parish village is a monument to the battles of the Winter War. The deciding battles of the Winter War on the Lapland frontline were fought in December 1939 in the Vasaniemi and Lapinniemi regions. The battles were led by Lappish General K. M. Wallenius as his final war operation prior to transferring to Vyborg Bay and retirement. These battle grounds and mass graves are still located in Vasaniemi with the war memorial in Lapinkangas. A monument was erected for the fallen Soviet soldiers of the Winter War in autumn 2002 on the Vasaniemi battleground, where the Soviet soldiers suffered great losses.

Being his birthplace, Pelkosenniemi’s gift to rock music in Finland and throughout the world is of course Antti Hulkko, better known as Hanoi Rocks star Andy McCoy. The home where Andy grew up is still located in the village and the building is still inhabited. No tours and no visits, rock ’n roll style!
   
Pond Tunturilampi.                                          Trollius europaeus.