South Karelia is a popular tourist area in
Finland with its special features – its nature, its location between Lake
Saimaa and the border as well as its cultural heritage and history as a border
region. Thanks to the natural attractions, waterways and islands, tourism has natural prerequisites for developing in South Karelia. The provincial centres are continuously improving their services.
Lappeenranta has in recent years focused particularly on tourism services for families, and
Imatra on fishing and spa tourism. There is a good selection of agritourism attractions and tourism services available around the
region. Lappeenranta Fortification and its museums portray the history of the border zone and border arrangements over several centuries. Cruises on Lake Saimaa and along Saimaa Canal up to Vyborg are a unique tourist attraction for Finns and foreigners alike. The high quality guest marinas draw yachters to Lake Saimaa all the way from international waters. The
region also features an interesting cross-section of churches that represent various centuries, architectural styles and denominations. The internationally best-known of these is the
Church of the Three Crosses in
Imatra designed by
Alvar Aalto. The South Karelian nature has played a key role in the history of tourism. The rapids of
Imatrankoski and their surroundings became the first actual tourist attraction in
Finland. Russian upper classes and civil servants, in particular, came to marvel at the wild foams of the rapids. In the summer of 1772, Russian Empress
Catherine the Great visited Imatra for one day. Her journey from St. Petersburg to Imatra took five days. The rulers and dignitaries of many other countries have left a memento of their visit in the rocks surrounding the rapids. Actual tourism in the modern sense developed in the 19th century. It was speeded up by the completion of Saimaa Canal and St. Petersburg railway in the latter half of the century. What also drew tourists all the way from St. Petersburg was the good fishing to be had in
River Vuoksi, Imatra Rapids and Lake Saimaa. The Rauha – Tiuruniemi area by the Lake Saimaa has long traditions in spa and hotel activities. As early as 1894 the area's first hotel spa - Rauha pensionat för turister - was established. In 1912 a Russia-born physicist Dimitri Gabrilovitsch bought the place to transform it into a sanatorium. The clinic's services at the time were different kinds of baths as well as galvanic and bright light treatments. The clinic had visitors from
Russia,
Europe and even the
Americas. The spa in
Lappeenranta, which is still in business today, was founded in 1871. Tourism in South Karelia went into a decline for some time after the
First World War ended the flows of travellers from St. Petersburg. Interest in domestic travel, which had arisen towards the end of the 19th century, increased as conditions became more settled in the newly independent
Finland. Tourism had its heyday before the 1930s depression. The area, including Lake Saimaa and the legendary beaches of
Terijoki, was a popular area for holiday villas. Tourism was once more affected by the closing of the borders after the
Second World War. The unspoilt nature and Lake Saimaa attracted tourists especially from
Central Europe and the
Nordic countries. The
Germans discovered the rented holiday houses on the shores of Saimaa. ==Education==