Last year summer my parents in law were visiting us for the first time in Finland. The main reason behind it was that they could attend our “big” wedding in Finland and see where we currently live. As we had a whole month with them we tried to show them as much as possible without straining our financial situation too much. In a previous post I wrote about their first visit on a strawberry farm, well now I will write about their first visit in a truly weird place.
This place is located near our summer cottage in Nummijärvi which is near the city of Kauhajoki. I guess these names mean nothing to you but anyways I wrote them down just as some reference if you ever get interested and want to visit there. So as I mentioned this site is near the cottage my parents own and we were there for a few days prior to our wedding. We wanted to show my parents in law more than just the beautiful nature there and the idea of visiting that weird place came just at the right time. We only had a 20 min car ride through forests and swamps till we arrived.
First of all the whole place is located within a swamp and the owner of this particular place had some years back the idea to build on his own several buildings in this swamp. I think all materials except the windows and some water drains are natural materials found all over his property.
After many years of building he had created a little village for himself, including several sauna buildings, a building for parties and dances and a little swamp spa. Swamp Spa? Oh yes, it is hard to describe but I have uploaded a picture with a part of it. Basically it is a circular trench with a little island in the middle on which can be found a few benches and a fireplace. The trench itself can be used to swim around. Did I mention already this whole thing is located in the middle of a swamp? This means that you swim in the swamp when you feel like it. You got to remember that there are some fancy spa’s worldwide where you have to pay a hefty sum to take a swamp mud bath so this “free” version has its own positive aspects.
Sadly I just don’t have the words to describe this place in its entire beauty and weirdness. It is just one of these places you have to visit to get to know its value.
My parents in law were also fairly impressed by this place but they said they would never go to swim there, fair enough, I don’t know if I would do it either without the sauna being on!
Here are some picture and a very short description in English and hereyoucan find everything more described in Finnish. Also here the official website of the Lake and, yet again, a Finnish description.
Crazy Chinese Family 
Very lovely pictures. I think if I do ever pay a visit in your part of the world, my eyes will definitely get a treat! I too don’t know if I will ever swim in that “Swamp Spa”…but what I do know I’ll do here is wander around and take in the scenery and sights. There doesn’t look like there are paths though. But no matter – with a good pair of shoes I’m sure anyone can have a good time here.
Finland has much to offer when it comes to nature and beautiful scenery. In the next months I will post more pictures from several trips around Finland.
Btw. there are actually paths in this “Kammi-Kylä”. In the one picture which is from the 2nd floor of a building, both my father and my father in law are standing on wooden planks. Those are in Scandinavia usual paths through swamps 🙂
Awesome post and stunning photos! Thank you showing them.
It is an interesting place when being around Kauhajoki/ Nummijärvi.
My mother had to do some translation work a couple of years ago when a German youth football team was in that area and visited Kammi-Kylä 🙂