Parppeinvaaran runokylä
The Karelian village of Parppeinvaara in Ilomantsi, where kantele music, rune singing, Orthodoxy and Karelian building traditions are presented in museum granaries and cabins.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Parppeinvaara was previously known as Sikrenvaara, and the hill has been settled since the late 17th century. It received its present name from the Parppei family, who lived there from the 19th century. The master of the main farm, Jaakko Parppei (1792–1885), was an Orthodox lay judge (lautamies) and a well-known kantele player.
The rune village has been built since the 1960s in memory of Karelian building craftsmanship and of the rune singers. A large Karelian village was originally planned for the hill, based on plans by the architect Aulis Kalma, and the project was supported by people inspired by the spirit of their home district and by the Karjalaisen Kulttuurin Edistämissäätiö (Karelian Culture Promotion Foundation). The first heritage building erected on the hill was the Runonlaulajan pirtti (Rune Singer’s Cabin), completed in 1964 to a design by Kalma.
Today the Parppeinvaara rune village presents features of Karelian culture: kantele music, rune singing, handicrafts, Orthodoxy and traditional food. The area also presents war history and the nature of Ilomantsi with its animals. The museum activities of the rune village are run by the Ilomantsin Museosäätiö (Ilomantsi Museum Foundation).
Highlights
- Runonlaulajan pirtti (Rune Singer’s Cabin), the village’s first heritage building from 1964
- Museum granaries of Mateli Kuivalatar and Korhonen
- Border General Raappana’s lodge and the All Saints’ chapel (Kaikkien Pyhien tsasouna)
- Nature cabin Mesikkä and the Parppeinpirtti restaurant
- Mobile guide to the rune village’s sites and the rune-singing tradition
Permanent exhibition
- Karjalaisuuden lähteillä – The basic exhibition presents Karelian culture in the buildings of the rune village.
- Operated by
- Ilomantsin Museosäätiö
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5pensioners and children aged 7–15 (in the winter season) |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 6 · Children aged 7–15: €8 in summer, €5 in winter. Under-7s enter free of charge. |
| Seniors | €5Pensioners: €8 in summer, €5 in winter. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €8 per personGroup admission for groups of at least 10 people: €8 per person; ages 7–15: €6. |
| Guided tour for a group (duration 1 hour 15 minutes) | €90 |
| Guided tour with kantele music or rune singing (duration 1 hour 30 minutes), summer season | €110Winter season €130 per group. |
| Opening fee outside opening hours | €50 |
Adult admission is €10 in the summer season and €7 in the winter season. Museokortti (Finnish Museum Card) is accepted. Edenred, Smartum and ePassi culture benefits are also accepted.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The rune village is located at Parppeinvaara in Ilomantsi, at Parppeintie 4 C.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
The area has the Parppeinpirtti restaurant and the Parppeinpuoti museum shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours are offered for groups, including guided tours with kantele music or rune singing. A mobile guide to the rune village has been created at tarinasoitin.fi/runokyla. |
