Pielisen museo

About the museum

The Pielisen museo (Pielinen Museum) grew out of objects collected in the 1930s by elementary school teacher Onni E. Koponen. Koponen donated his collection to the Lieksa market town during the Second World War, and in 1948 the objects formed the town's museum. The exhibition rooms were at first in the basement of the Keskuskoulu (central school), and from 1955 the municipality of Pielisjärvi also took part in museum work.

Koponen and forester Ilmari Karvonen planned an open-air museum to preserve the disappearing tradition of log buildings. The museum received the Pappilanniemi site on the bank of the Lieksanjoki river, and the first building to be erected was the Virsuvaara tupa (log cabin) in 1963. The most intensive building period was from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, and today the open-air museum area has more than 70 buildings and structures.

The museum's old main building was completed in 1973, the same year in which the market town of Lieksa and the municipality of Pielisjärvi were merged into the town of Lieksa. The present main building was taken into use in spring 2024. The open-air museum is Finland's second largest and has three courtyard groups representing different centuries, as well as an extensive forestry-work department called Savotaranta.

Highlights

• Finland's second largest open-air museum, with more than 70 buildings
• Three yards: Lukan pirtti from 1765, Pielispiha and the Lieksavoinen cottage
• Savotaranta: buildings and tools for forestry work and log driving
• Windmill and two water mills
• Changing exhibitions in the main building and a museum shop

Permanent exhibition

• Ulkomuseo – More than 70 buildings and structures: three yards from different centuries, a mill department, an agriculture and fire department, and Savotaranta. The area is closed for the whole of 2026.

Founded

1948

Operated by

Lieksan kaupunki

Admission & discounts

The Museokortti is accepted. Admission is also free for holders of the ICOM card, museum staff cards and the Finnish Guide Association card, as well as for group leaders and bus drivers (groups of more than 10 people). A teacher of a Lieksa school group and one teacher of a visiting school group from elsewhere enter free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main building is accessible: the entrance has a ramp, and the building has an accessible toilet and induction loops. Two marked accessible parking spaces are in front of the main building, and two more are further away. The open-air museum area can be reached via the ramp on the side terrace of the main building. There are gravel paths in the area, but the buildings' interiors are not step-free because of high thresholds and steps.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The Children's Day tour is intended for children over four (€1.20 per person).

Getting there & parking

The museum is on Pappilanniemi by the Lieksanjoki river, about a kilometre from Lieksa town centre on the other side of the bridge.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Café in the main building in summer, otherwise by request; the museum shop sells products from local makers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Plan your visit