Cultural Route - Akseli Kallen-Gallela’s Journey

Set out on a journey in the footsteps of Akseli Gallen-Kallela to Suolahti and Konginkangas. The artist arrived by train at Suolahden Wanha Asema during his excursions in 1904 and 1906. In these Central Finland landscapes he found the inspiration for the famous painting Keitele.

Experience on site the landscape that inspired the masterpiece, and let history come to life. You’ll find info points at Suolahden Wanha Asema and in the yard of Neste Lintulahti. 

In the footsteps of Akseli Gallen-Kallela

The cultural route introduces Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s travels in Suolahti and Konginkangas. The information boards along the route at Suolahden Wanha asema and at Lintulahti in Konginkangas open views into the artist’s excursions, local landscapes and stories. Gallen-Kallela’s connection to the area is intertwined especially with nature, the landscapes of Lake Keitele, and captivating tales.

Suolahti – on the way to Gallen-Kallela’s landscapes

Suolahden Wanha asema takes the traveler on a journey back to the early 1900s, when Suolahti was an important hub for water and rail traffic in northern Central Finland. In just such an environment, Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s journeys in the Äänekoski region found their historical context. 

Gallen-Kallela visited Suolahti in 1906 and is said to have stayed at the Kirppula house.  Suolahti’s rugged winter landscapes also left their mark on the artist’s work. From the rocky outcrops and forests of Kirppuvuori came, among others, Ilvesluola and Palanut honka.

For today’s visitor, Suolahti is a wonderful place to start the cultural route – here you can sense the same spirit of travel the artist moved within, and continue toward the landscapes that became part of his story. 

Address: AsematoriAsematori, 44200, Äänekoski

Konginkangas – stories and the artist’s journeys

In 1904 Akseli Gallen-Kallela arrived with his family at the Lintula house in Konginkangas to spend the summer on the shore of Keitele. The lake view from Lintula inspired several works, the best known of which is Keitele. 

The Konginkangas cultural route invites you to stop on the same shore, look over the lake and feel why this very landscape made such a strong impression on Gallen-Kallela. At present-day Lintulahti you can still catch something of that summer when art, nature and the family’s shared journey met on the shore of Keitele. 

Address: Neste Lintulahti, Ouluntie 2680, 44440 Räihä