Памятный знак "Сосна Лённрота"

The Lönnrot Pine Memorial is a dried, twisted pine trunk without branches that has been naturally polished by time and weather. It now stands on Väinämöinen Street in central Kalevala, surrounded by small rocks and accompanied by a wooden bench for visitors to rest.

In the 1830s, Finnish scholar Elias Lönnrot documented Karelian folk songs and poetry at this location, work that later formed the basis for the Kalevala epic. This collection became fundamental to Finnish literary tradition and cultural understanding.

For generations, local people gathered at this pine to perform traditional circle dances and sing folk songs that expressed their daily life. The tree became a symbol of community and the sharing of stories that shaped Karelian identity.

The memorial sits in the town center, making it easy to find and visit without difficulty. The site includes a bench where you can sit and take in the significance of the place at your own pace.

The silhouette of this pine has served as the logo of the Karelia Publishing House since 1970, making it recognizable far beyond the town itself. This symbol connects the memorial to wider Finnish and Karelian literary circles.