• Many things to see and do on the river

          “Come along and we’ll show a Lapland you’ve never heard of.” Nature in all its splendour is present in everything. No need for Broadway shows. The locals help you to find the best performances nature has to offer. Your heart will sing and you’ll give a standing ovation as you take relaxing walk on a nature path or an exciting white-water excursion on the river. Not to mention cultural sights, interesting buildings and landmarks.

        • Things to Do

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        • Events

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        • Explore nature

          explore nature-torne valley-river

        • Cultural sights

        • Pello the Fishing Capital

          original-lapland-pello-kalastuspääkaupunki

        • Experience Ylitornio

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        • SERVICES

          Our Lapland Invites You to Visit

          “We’ll take good care of you! Come along!”

          Sleep in a barn or in a five-star hotel decorated with magic of Lapland? A five-star dinner cooked with local ingredients, a quick packed lunch or more experimental cuisine with wild herbs? Paper art, traditional Lovikka mittens and reindeer products? In Our Lapland you’ll find a wide range of services.

        • Accommodation

          Valkea-lodge-majoitus-pello-huoneessa-original-lapland

        • Meetings

        • Activities

        • Other services

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        • Food and Drink

        • Our products

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        • OUR TIPS

          Our Lapland is also Your Lapland

          “When you understand what Our Lapland is like, you won’t want to leave.” Our calendar is the Torne River. When does the ice break? Is it already flooding? Is the salmon coming? Is the river already frozen? Our clock is the sun. During the polar night the sun is barely rises, so why not stay in and take it easy. In summer there is light, night and day. So much time and so many nice things to do! Still, let’s take it easy. Have a seat, we’ll have a coffee and a chat.

          Take a moment to feel the rhythm of light and nature.

        • Road Trips

          Road trip tips to Lapland

        • Local Gems

          Mustikassa Vuoskuvaarassa elokuussa 2020. Kuvaaja Iina Askonen

        • Our blog

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        • Survival Guide

        • Different rhythm of life

          Original Lapland, Tornionlaakson syksy ja ruskan värit

        • Good to know

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        • INFORMATION

          Come along!

          The river runs hundreds of kilometres from the Torne Lake in northern Sweden to the far end of the Bay of Bothnia. The area of Original Lapland is vast and the distances may be long, however, the road network and connections cover the area well and getting from place to place is no problem.

        • Sustainability

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        • When you arrive

        • Members

          original lapland members-jäsenyritykset-yritykset-jäsenet-yhdistys

        • Towns and villages

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        • Our history

        • Contact info

          original-lapland-connect-information-ota-yhteyttä-riekko

Tour of 12 Churches

Explore church buildings!

If you are interested in church architecture, there’s plenty to see along the Torne River. Get to know the local cultural heritage and see churches on both sides of the river in Finland and Sweden. Make sure you visit at least these!

  • Alatornio chruch in Tornio is one of the most magnificent 18th century stone churches in Finland. The tower of the church houses a triangulation station of Struve – one of Unesco’s World Heritage Sites.
  • Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is located in the centre of Tornio.
  • Haparanda’s modern church was completed in 1967 to replace its burnt predecessor. With a steel frame and copper cladding it represents functionalism.
  • Karl Gustav’s church is located in Karungi in Sweden. It was taken into use already in 1796. They say that when Finland and Sweden were still one nation, the people from the eastern shores entered the church through a door by the river side.
  • Karungi church in Finland was completed in 1817 less than 10 years after the new border was drawn.
  • Särkilahti church in Övertorneå is a rare new church building. It was built following the design of the old 400-year-old church that was destroyed in a flood.
  • Hietaniemi church is located in the village of Hedenäset in Övertorneå. There is a story about a missing church bell that was found 200 years later.
  • Matarengi church in Övertorneå is a beautiful, well-preserved wooden church. The restoration work has aspired to maintain the 18th century style and colours.
  • The pink Svanstein church is situated in the idyllic village of Svanstein in Sweden (across the river from Turtola in Finland).
  • You might need warm clothing when you visit Kolarinsaari old church as there is no heating, neither lights nor water. This square-shaped old beauty is protected under the Built Heritage Act.
  • Karesuando church in Kiruna is the northernmost church in Sweden. It was completed in 1905.
  • Enontekiö/Hetta church was completed in 1952 and replaced a church destroyed during the war. The building project was mostly financed by Lutherans in the USA.

 

 

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