Mikkeli is a university town that stands among the lakes and rivers of south-eastern Finland. This 'Lakeland' is a popular area for Finns to visit for holiday cottages and outdoor activities. If you hire a car in Mikkeli You'll be able to tour this watery landscape and visit the highlights of the region. These include the Salmela Arts Centre, one of Finland's most acclaimed galleries, and the Miekankoski museum of log-floating. Close by, Mikkeli stands on the shores of Lake Saimaa, which is a popular area to explore with walking trails and boat trips.
If you hire a car in Mikkeli, you'll find that heavy bombing in World War Two means that most of the town is modern. Visitor highlights include the pedestrian market square, a modern concert hall and a cathedral. The Granite House Art Museum specializes in displays of Finnish art, the gallery at Kyyhkylä Manor specializes in art made from recycled objects and the GalleriAri is an opportunity to eat and drink surrounded by art. Elsewhere discover the museum dedicated to Mikkeli's role as the headquarters of the Finnish army during World War Two and the railway carriage command post of army leader Marshal Mannerheim, in which he met Hitler. There is also an infantry museum in the old cavalry barracks.
