Kajaani

Kajaani is a regional capital in Kainuu in central Finland, stretching along the Kajaaninjoki River between wide forests and lakes. The town divides into several districts, with the commercial center near the water and residential neighborhoods spreading into the surrounding landscape.

Per Brahe founded the settlement in 1651 as a trading post, after a castle had already been built in 1604 to administer the region. Russian forces destroyed the fortress in 1716 during the Great Northern War, and the town was later rebuilt as a civilian community.

Visitors find a community where Finnish and Swedish names appear side by side on street signs, reflecting the Swedish heritage from its founding period. The local theater and cultural center host regular performances in Finnish and draw audiences from across the region.

The town is accessible by air from Helsinki, and train connections run south and north along the main rail line through Finland. Those arriving in winter should bring warm clothing, as temperatures often drop below freezing and snow covers the landscape.

The annual spring jazz festival takes place in unconventional spaces such as old factories and forest stages, where musicians perform in small groups among the trees or inside abandoned industrial halls. Some concerts even occur on the frozen lake when the ice still holds and weather permits.