Kauhava is a lively town at the heart of Southern Ostrobothnia. The most popular attraction in the Kauhava region is the PowerPark Theme Park, but the town is also famous for all things related to knives. You can learn more about the region’s most famous knife fighters and bladed weapons at the local knife museum. For those interested in Finnish military history, Kauhava is also home to the Finnish Jaeger Museum and also to the former tuberculosis hospital, the Härmä Sanatorium Museum.
For art and history enthusiasts, start your town break with the various galleries and museums on offer. The Juhani Palmu Art Gallery has an impressive art collection, while the Alahärmä Regional Museum explores the history of the local knife fighters and several collections of pharmaceutical and agricultural objects.
The Iisakki Jussi farmhouse nearby contains authentic 19th century interior décor. The house was also used to house prisoners awaiting transport to Vaasa Castle. Complete your museum tour by visiting the Markki Museum, with farming tools dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries.
Kauhava is also well known for its masterfully crafted puukko knives, which can be seen at the Kauhava Knife and Textile Museum and the Iisakki Järvenpää Museum, but do make sure to book in advance. To experience the puukko knife craze for yourself, visit the Kauhava Knife Festival, where local craftsmen show off their knives. You might also enjoy the Finnish puukko knife throwing championship.
One of the most popular destinations for your holiday in Kauhava is the PowerPark theme park, with plenty of rollercoasters, rides and indoor and outdoor carting tracks for you to enjoy. The park is open all year round, but is at its busiest during the summer months.
Kauhava is easy to reach by motorways 63 and 19, which both take you to all the important locations in the municipality. The centre of Kauhava also has a train station with several daily departures across the region.
