Strömfors

Our last day in Ruotsinpyhtää was delightful. We slept long and woke up with blue sky outside. A morning at home enjoying the property, just before lunchtime off to Loviisa for the wonderful Myllyharju walk and down to the harbour for ice cream. Sushi take away on the way back, a quick visit to Strömfors Ruukki and then at home slowly packing for our departure tomorrow morning. We are heading a few hours North to Sotkamo.

The area we have been staying is so rich in history and nature …. simply great. Below two abstracts about our village Ruotsinpyhtää and the walk in Loviisa.

Strömfors (Ruotsinpyhtää):
Along the westernmost fork of the Kymijoki River, you’ll find a charming old ironworks called Strömforsin Ruukki (Strömfors Ironworks) with its picturesque surroundings steeped in artisanal traditions. Here you can hear the burning coal crack and the thumping on the anvil, with the flowing river and chirping birds nearby.
Strömfors Ironworks is one of Finland’s oldest ironworks, dating back to 1695. Baron Johan Creutz founded the first shop in the area due to its plentiful forests and abundant hydroelectric power. Since then, it has attracted all kinds of businesses, such as a brewery, a brick factory, and asawmill.
With its red-stained buildings and open-air museum, the area has remained almost unchanged to this day and is a charming, unique village protected by The Finnish Heritage Agency. The Forge Museum includes an old smith’s workshop and a working mill wheel. There is also an art gallery and many restaurants and craft shops in close proximity.
Strömfors provides gorgeous nature trails and waterways for the outdoor enthusiast, and bikes, boats, canoes, sup-boards, and kayaks can berented at the village. Extend your stay at a local hotel, guesthouse, or cottage, and you will find yourself at the heart of artisan history and breathtaking nature.
There is also a fantastic 8-kilometer-long hiking route at Lake Kukuljärvi that starts from Strömfors. It has cliff views and lakeside scenery, a picnic area with a place for a campfire, as well as toilets – Bring your bathing suit!
The western fork of the Kymijoki River that flows next to Strömfors once marked the border between Russia and Sweden. This line on the map was drawn in 1743 in the Treaty of Åbo. It divided the village of Pyhtää into two separate villages: Pyhtää on the east and Ruotsinpyhtää on the west (which translates into Swedish Pyhtää in English and is known as Strömfors in Swedish).

Loviisa:
Loviisa is a coastal town in Finland known for its well-preserved wooden architecture and natural beauty, with Myllyharju being a prominent ridge and walking route within the town. Myllyharju, meaning "mill ridge," was named after six windmills that once stood there in the 18th century. The windmills were removed in the early 20th century due to noise complaints, and the area was developed into a pleasant walking area with trees and a promenade. The Myllyharju walking route starts at the Loviisa Church and offers scenic views, informational signs about the area, and even benches with song lyrics. A highlight of the route is the Art Nouveau-style observation tower at Kukkukivi, built in 1906, which provides panoramic views of the town and the sea.