Pieksämäki



Pieksämäki is a city in South Savonia province, Eastern Finland.



Understand
Pieksämäki used to be a part of the larger Kangasniemi parish, which was established in the late 1600s. In the 1700s, the area began to develop with the opening of a new road connecting the towns of Heinola and Kuopio, which passed through Pieksämäki. This road made Pieksämäki an important trading hub and helped the town grow and prosper.

Pieksämäki became an independent municipality in 1868, and it continued to develop as a center of agriculture, trade, and industry in the region. In the early 1900s, the town experienced significant growth as new industries, such as a pulp and paper mill, were established in the area.

During World War II, Pieksämäki suffered some damage from bombings, but it was quickly rebuilt after the war. The town continued to develop and modernize in the post-war era, and it became an important center for transportation and logistics due to its location at the intersection of major rail lines and highways.

By train
Pretty much the only reason a traveller is likely to end up in Pieksämäki in the first place is that it's a major train junction where the Jyväskylä–Joensuu and Kouvola–Kuopio lines meet. The town can thus be reached by direct train from virtually all of Finland's main cities, such as: Helsinki (3 hrs), Tampere (2 hrs), Turku (4 hrs) and Oulu.

By bus
Coaches connect Pieksämäki to Jyväskylä, Joensuu, Varkaus and Mikkeli. See Matkahuolto.

Get around


The railway station is at the eastern end of the centre, which is a kilometre or so across. Local bus is available. The Matka.fi route planner includes timetables of Pieksämäki local buses. Matkahuolto Routes and Tickets app is able to first plan the route and after it sell the right ticket for it.

By taxi

 * Smartphone app: Valopilkku
 * Smartphone app: Valopilkku

See




Do
Visit a few lakes around Pieksämäki; there are hundreds to choose from, all of them suitable for swimming, also those with a brownish natural sediment. The highest transparency of several metres is found in the waters around Jäppilä. For geologists the most interesting lake is Iso Naakkima, notable for having an impact crater, about 1,200 million years old, under its surface.

Mushrooms and berries are abundant in the local forests.

Buy


If you have half an hour or more to kill at Pieksämäki, make your way to the market (signposted as Tori), where in summer you'll find vendors of berries, freshly cooked vendace (muikku), and more. There's also a large S-Market supermarket right next to the market.

Go next

 * Mikkeli
 * Suonenjoki
 * Varkaus