Kauhava

Kauhava is a town and municipality in Southern Ostrobothnia. It is known for its variant of puukko knives.

The Kauhava municipality nowadays includes also Alahärmä, Ylihärmä and Kortesjärvi, with a total population of 17,000 people on 1,330 km².

In the 19th century Kauhava and its surroundings had a strong puukko-junkkari or häijyt culture of young violent troublemakers. A big problem at the time, they have been romanticized and are now part of the local identity (like the Vikings in Scandinavia). There is a yearly Härmääläiset Häijyilyt festival celebrating the tradition.

The puukko is an all-round handicraft, fishing and hunting knife, ubiquitous in all Finland. Iisakki Järvenpää worked at the local knife factory until starting his own in 1904, further developing the local variant. Iisakki Järvenpää is now one of the most well-known puukko brands in Finland, found in outdoor and gift shops all around the country. Also other kinds of knives are now sold by the brand.

Kauhava also has a strong folk dance tradition, and is taking its place in the modern word with entrepreneurship and IT education. The school for fighter pilots was laid down some years ago.

63.09972223.0355561 Kauhava railway station.  (updated Jun 2023) is on the main south–north railway (Helsinki–Rovaniemi), between Seinäjoki and Kokkola.

There are a few buses per day from Seinäjoki, mostly operated by Härmän Liikenne.

Taxis available by the railway station. Bus timetables from Matkahuolto.

• Keskustaksi, Taksini: see Southern Ostrobothnia#By taxi
• Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

• Puukko-knife and textile museum (Puukko- ja tekstiilimuseo), Kauppatie 88, 62200 Kauhava (by the library), ☏ +358 40-148-4420, +358 40-579-7260, puuk­ko­museo@kauhava.​fi. summer 2017: Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00. Large collection of puukko knives. Knife making explained. The childhood home of Iisakki Järvenpää, who greatly influenced the local knife making, showing his personal history and a home of the 1920s. €2/1/1.  (updated Aug 2017)
• 63.09611123.0208331 Iisakin Jussin tupa, Museotie, 62200 Kauhava, ☏ +358 40-533-1343, +358 40-844-1995. Traditional house from the late 19th century, with yard and outhouses. Original interiors.  (updated Aug 2017)
• 63.29888923.1583332 Jaeger museum (Suomen jääkärimuseo), Jää­kä­rin­tie 80, 62420 Kor­tes­jär­vi, ☏ +358 40-148-4420, +358 40-356-6810, suomen.​jaakarimuseo@kauhava.​fi. Wed Fri Sat Sun 11:00–17:00, Thu 11:00–19:00; 15 Jun–15 Aug Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00 or by request (with guiding). Museum about the Finnish Jaeger movement. The Jaegers were young Finnish men who secretly travelled to Germany for military training to free Finland. Independence was gained peacefully while they were in Germany, but they played an important role in the civil war soon afterwards. The events are probably told from the Jaegers' viewpoint, not necessarily discussing the complexities of the war. €5/3, children under 18 free, guiding €25.   ^{[dead link]}
• Forest reindeer. Kauhava is one of the main areas for wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) in winter.

Powerpark is a leisure centre in Alahärmä (2–3 km from the centre), 25 km from Kauhava centre. It is a recreational park with more than 100 hectares. It was built at the beginning of 21st century.

• 63.22833122.8597191 Powerpark, Puistotie 3, 62300 Härmä / Jorma Lillbackantie 16 (bus stop "Lahdenkylä th", 1.3 km walk).  (updated Aug 2017)

The area includes the amusement park with a fairy-tale world, hotels, restaurants, cafés, a shopping street, a camping site, the largest karting hall in Europe and the Mika Salo Cicuit outdoor track.

This amusement park has 34 different rides, for different tastes and ages, including Thunderbird, Finland’s largest wooden rollercoaster and there is also a new 5D cinema. The activities also include horseback trekking and ATV safaris in Ostrbotnian landscape.

Mika Salo Circuit is an international standard go-kart race track and with a beautiful view to the river. PowerPalace is Europe’s biggest indoor go-kart hall. No experience is required and as full tuition is always provided by PowerPark as well as all the equipment needed. Instructors give a thorough guidance before start.

Devil’s Mine Hotel, the interactive ghost train, MegaDrop, the free fall, Thunderbird, one of the world’s best wooden roller coasters and Booster are some of the attractions. Those who like calmer rides can enjoy the traditional carousels or ferries with a lovely view to the Ostrobothnian countryside.

It is always important to check the safety limits, for those who are yet not allowed to go to all rides.

• Puukko- & käsityöfestivaalit. Knife and handicraft festival (updated Aug 2017)
• Härmälääset Häjyylyt
• Kävelykarnevaalit ("walking carnival")
• Puukkofestivaali (knife festival)
• Finnish championship of lying

• Knives.

PowerPark has a variety of accommodation options within walking distance of the amusement park, including a hotel, apartment hotels, themed cottages and camping areas.

• Park Hotel Härmä, Puistotie 3 (Next to the amusement park), ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. A fairy-tale-themed hotel with a distinctive atmosphere inspired by an old luxury cruise liner. Rooms have private bathrooms, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The hotel restaurant serves breakfast and seasonal à la carte meals. The hotel is right next to the amusement park and karting track. 
• San Marino & Monza, Puistotie 3 (In the Rio Grande camping area), ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Log-built apartment hotels in a peaceful, green camping area beside the outdoor swimming pool. Rooms accommodate two to four people and have a TV, bathroom, shower and refrigerator. Breakfast at Park Hotel Härmä is included, as well as access to the campsite sauna and summer swimming pool. The amusement park is about 250 metres away. 

• Silverstone Cottages, Rio Grande camping area, ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Traditional Finnish log cabins in a private setting on the edge of the Rio Grande camping area. The six-person cottages have two double bedrooms, a living room, kitchenette, sleeping loft, bathroom and covered terrace. Some cottages have a sauna. The amusement park and outdoor karting track are about 200 metres away. 
• Future Cottages, Rio Grande camping area, ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Modern, stylish cottages in a peaceful camping area surrounded by rural scenery. The four-person cottages have a living area with kitchenette, sleeping loft, sauna, bathroom and furnished terrace. The amusement park is about 300 metres away. 
• Tirol Cottages, PowerPark camping area, ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Log-built cottages with an Austrian Alpine atmosphere. The five-person cottages have a double bedroom, a sleeping area for three, a kitchen-living room, sauna, bathroom and furnished terrace overlooking the camping area. The amusement park is about 300 metres away. 
• Casa Rosina, PowerPark camping area, ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. A large, luxurious log villa in an Alpine style, suitable for up to 12 people. It has six double bedrooms, a spacious living room and kitchen, sauna, three bathrooms and terraces. The villa is suitable for families, groups and informal meetings. The amusement park is about 300 metres away. 
• Fisherman Cottages, Rio Grande camping area, ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Well-equipped cottages with an archipelago atmosphere and sea-inspired interiors. The four-person cottages have a double bedroom, sofa bed, kitchenette, sauna, bathroom and air conditioning. They are centrally located in the Rio Grande camping area, about 250 metres from the amusement park. 
• Wild West Wagons, Rio Grande camping area, ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Wild West-style wagons with cosy, individually decorated interiors. Each wagon has bunk beds for four people, lighting, an electrical socket and a small table with seating. Toilets, showers, sauna and kitchen facilities are in the nearby camping service building. Breakfast is included. The wagons are about 200 metres from the amusement park. 

• Rio Grande Camping, PowerPark, ☏ +358 10 3477 600. Check-out: 12:00. A green and peaceful camping area for caravans and motorhomes, with about 65 paved pitches and electricity. The service building has toilets, showers, saunas, a kitchen, dining area, laundry room and playroom. There is an outdoor swimming pool in summer. The amusement park and other services are only a few hundred metres away. Tent camping is available at Green Field Camping. 

• Lappajärvi
• Lapua
• Pedersöre
• Vörå

Nykarleby ← Alahärmä ← Ylihärmä ←	NW  S	→ Seinäjoki → Kurikka
END ←	S  NE	→ Evijärvi → Kaustinen → Ylivieska