Made it to FINNISH LAKELAND! | Tour of LAPPEENRANTA 🇫🇮

My road trip through Finnish Lakeland really gets started in this vlog as I arrive at Lake Saimaa & tour the city of Lappeenranta in South Karelia, Finland.
🇫🇮 See more of my travel vlogs from Finland here → http://bit.ly/mwt_finland

My day started near the small rural villages of Simola & Monola where I had found accommodation for the previous night - the Hostel Vanha Koulu which from what I could make out was in Simola about 10 miles from the city. I will give you a room tour and tell you how much I paid to stay there.

After breakfast I drove to Lappeenranta, parked the car close to the harbour and marina which turned out to be close to some of the city’s landmarks.

It was wonderful to finally be hitting the great lakes of Finland and some of the early stops I made gave me the chance to see Finland’s largest lake up close. I walked along to the famous sandcastles of Lappeenrannan Hiekkalinna, climbed Paviljonki Observation Tower in the rain and headed up towards the fort on the hill.

Lappeenranta Fortress (Lappeenrannan Linnoitus) is a mostly 18th century site where I found historic buildings, an old gate and guardhouse, museums, churches and a park area overlooking the beautiful and equally gigantic Lake Saimaa. The fortress links up the heritage of Finland, Sweden and Russia.

As rain showers continued to blow in I walked over to Lappeenranta city centre and took a self guided tour of the area. I revelled in Central Park (Keskuspuisto) and marvelled at the size and splendour of St. Mary's Lutheran Church of Lappee (Lappeen Marian Kirkko). Attached to it is the Lappeenranta Heroes Cemetery (Lappeenrannan Sankarihautausmaa) and the Monument at the Soldiers’ Cemetery: Sorrow and Belief in the Future (Sankarihautausmaan Muistomerkki: Suru ja Usko Tulevaisuuteen), both close to a very modern looking shopping centre called Köpcentrum IsoKristiina (Kauppakeskus IsoKristiina).

Shame about the weather but I enjoyed my half day walking the shoreline of Lake Saimaa and visiting the city of Lappeenranta, Finland. Time to move on though, my Finnish Lakeland road trip continues regardless of the elements.

📖 CHAPTERS:
📖 00:00 Intro
📖 01:11 Hostel Vanha Koulu in Simola, Finland
📖 04:09 Lappeenranta Waterfront
📖 06:29 Lake Saimaa (Finland’s Largest Lake)
📖 08:41 Paviljonki Observation Tower
📖 09:01 Lappeenranta Fortress
📖 11:27 Lappeenranta Heroes Cemetery
📖 12:50 Lappeenranta Church
📖 11:43 Lappeenranta City Centre

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Soundtrack
🎵 Crazy Like That by Lofive
🎵 Come On Hurry Up by Pure Indigo
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