From an old railway station to a wellness ‘village’

From the centre of Lappeenranta, if you head south for about twenty kilometres along a lovely road that cuts through the forest and winds its way into the peaceful countryside, you’ll reach Pulsan Asema, a charming former railway station built in 1869, near which run the tracks still used today by industrial trains and, on special occasions (in summer), by old passenger trains as well. Revived in 2015 thanks to a skilful restoration, it is now a sort of ‘village’ nestled within a magnificent park and garden, featuring old wooden railway houses converted into simple yet very comfortable accommodation (all tastefully furnished and equipped with a kitchenette, with B&B rates of around 150 euros per night) and small shops displaying a fine selection of handcrafted goods. Much loved by city-dwelling Finns as a place to relax in the midst of nature, Pulsan Asema also welcomes many visitors and foreign tourists in winter (over 50,000 visitors a year), offering a café area with homemade cakes in the two rooms on the ground floor of the main building – which are also beautifully maintained and adorned with various early 20th-century artefacts – access to the nearby lake for swimming or water sports in the warmer months, and the pleasure of a genuine Finnish sauna to be enjoyed in one of the village’s cottages (this service is available by booking only to guests staying at the property). The business is run by Petra, the owner and creator of this charming establishment – a very friendly lady of Swiss origin and a professional interior designer who took a chance on the idea of breathing new life into a meeting place for those who love nature, silence and tranquillity: an evening spent with her, sampling her raclette (a traditional Swiss cheese that melts beautifully), is a celebration of the philosophy of how to live (well), centred on the pleasure of beautiful, natural and simple things.

https://pulsanasema.fi/