Kivijärvi offers several distinct reasons to plan an overnight trip: a neo-Gothic church with an unusual floor plan, a local heritage museum in a former grain storehouse, sporting activities and places by the water. When choosing your destination, you can decide in advance whether architectural history, exercise or beach and boating activities should be the main draw.
Church and local history
Kivijärvi’s current church, its third, was completed in 1874 and consecrated in 1875. Its neo-Gothic style is combined with an equal-armed cross plan, which is unusual for neo-Gothic churches. The arms of the cross are all the same length—a distinctive feature of the design.
A separate presentation of the church can be arranged with the sexton. So if you would like to learn more about the building, arrange this presentation separately.
The local heritage museum is housed in a former grain storehouse. The building is part of the oldest layer of development in Kivijärvi’s church village, so the museum site connects local history with one of its historic buildings. It is located on Pappilantie near Juurikkaharju Cemetery, providing a specific landmark to help you find it.
Parks and sporting activities
At Kirsikkapuisto, recreational activities meet local history. The park has a 12-hole mini-golf course and a monument commemorating the 150th anniversary of the municipality of Kivijärvi. It also features a mini arboretum and a water feature. The park thus offers several distinct points of interest, rather than focusing on a single facility.
At Peltokangas Sports Park, you’ll find a three-kilometre fitness and cross-country ski trail. Facilities also include a fitness staircase with 103 steps, completed in summer 2024, and an artificial-turf tennis court with two playing areas. There is also an 18-hole disc golf course. The small ski slope in the sports park is 130 metres long, with a vertical drop of 19 metres. This gives you a choice of different sporting activities, including a measured trail, tennis, disc golf and a ski slope.
A 55-kilometre network of cross-country ski trails extends across Kivijärvi. Trail availability depends on snow conditions and maintenance. For winter days, you can therefore choose between this trail network and the smaller ski slope at Peltokangas.
The beaches also differ in their specific facilities. Kukkoniemi Beach has a beach volleyball court, a playground, a pier and a changing cabin. At Nousulahti Beach in the centre, you’ll find a family disc golf course, introduced in 2025. When comparing the beach facilities, you’ll find a range of amenities at Kukkoniemi and a clearly defined focus on disc golf at Nousulahti.
Harbour and boating routes
Kirkonkylä Harbour has 58 berths and 21 boat parking spaces. On Lake Kivijärvi, boating routes have been marked within the municipality of Kivijärvi, and the municipality is responsible for maintaining them. Conditions along the routes can vary, so check them before planning a boat trip.
When choosing accommodation, you can weigh these themes according to your travel interests: the church and local heritage museum offer architectural and local history; Kirsikkapuisto and Peltokangas offer different recreational and sporting activities; and the beaches and boating routes offer activities by the water. The specific facilities and measurements can help you decide what matters most, without requiring you to turn the individual activities into a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Oulunsalo, Keuruu, Jämsänkoski, Lievestuore, Toivakka, Kuhmoinen, Kajaani, Häkkilä
For the wider travel overview: Central Finland.
