Raatteen Portti

About the museum

Raatteen Portti is a military history site at the start of the Raate Road in Suomussalmi, linked to the motti (encirclement) battles on the Raate Road during the Winter War. The site covers about 60 hectares and contains genuine wartime trenches and depressions.

The Winter War exhibition tells of Suomussalmi before the Winter War, of evacuation preparations, of how the severe frost winter affected the course of the war, of the fate of the Red Army, of the war booty obtained on the Raate Road, and of the conditions people returned to after the war. The exhibition includes a 14-minute documentary film with subtitles in Finnish, Swedish, English, German and Russian. The Continuation War (1941–1944) exhibition has weapons, artillery shells, grenades, propaganda posters, front-line postcards and letters. Visitors can try on a Jäger’s backpack and handle weapons that have been rendered inoperable. A stretch of field railway, of the kind Germany built in 1942–1944 in the Hyrynsalmi, Suomussalmi, Taivalkoski and Kuusamo areas, has also been constructed on the site.

Next to the museum is the Winter War monument, an area of about three hectares; building it required 17,000 stone blocks. Visitors can explore the museum on their own or book a guided tour in advance. The site has the Kanttiini Päämaja café-restaurant and a souvenir shop.

Highlights

• Winter War exhibition and 14-minute documentary film
• Continuation War exhibition with weapons and front-line letters
• Field railway and an original section of track
• Winter War monument, 17,000 stone blocks
• Kanttiini Päämaja café-restaurant and museum shop

Permanent exhibitions

• Talvisotanäyttely – The exhibition tells of Suomussalmi before the Winter War, of evacuation, of the effect of the severe frost on the war, of the fate of the Red Army and of conditions after the war; it includes a 14-minute documentary film.
• Jatkosodan näyttely (1941–1944) – The exhibition includes weapons, artillery shells, grenades, propaganda posters, front-line postcards and letters.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Kanttiini Päämaja: café-restaurant and souvenir shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit