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The area was formed into The name Saarijärvi became
Palvasalmi Chapel Congregation. established.

1628 1639 1690 1823

Palvasalmi became an Finnish National Poet J. L. Runeberg
independent congregation lived in Saarijärvi in 1823-1825.

SAARIJÄRVI -
from a bark bread parish to a lively city

Saarijärvi is among the oldest settlements in Finland – a settlement over 10,000 years
old has been discovered in Selänpäänjoki of Pylkönmäki. Slightly more recent settle-
ments have been found in Eerola of Kalmari and at the northern end of lake Sum-
masjärvi. A unique hunting pit trap system has been discovered in the region, which
indicates a highly organised community.

This community spirit has lasted throughout the millennia, as the folk of Saarijärvi are
a close-knit and warm community even today.

Our national poet Jo- Farmer Paavo even has his Some of the nature that
han Ludvig Runeberg lived own monument in Saari- was around in Runeberg’s
in Saarijärvi during the järvi; the bronze Paavo time has remained in an
years 1823-1825. Here the statue by Heikki Varja was almost untouched state
young poet encountered christened in 1961 in the in the present-day Julmat
a new and fascinating en- church park. Lammit nature conserva-
vironment, which experi- tion area. Runeberg was
ence was later distilled into an avid hunter who would
fine poetry. Farmer Paavo roam these majestic pond
was Runeberg’s first signif- landscapes in search of
icant poem about a Finn- game, which hunting trips
ish-speaking man of the have been described in his
people. It was published in
Runeberg’s first collection Saarijärvi article. The area
can be explored by hiking
in 1830. along the Runeberg trail.

4 Read the poem Farmer Paavo via the QR code!