The Astuva Rock Art Visitor Centre is located in a historic building that was once the residence of a military colonel. Thoughtfully renovated, it is now a new tourist attraction revealing the secrets of rock art to the public.
Built in 1739, the building served as the colonel’s official residence during the Swedish period, known as a “puustelli”. Among the ten similar buildings built in Finland, only two still stand, this one being the oldest and most intact.
The Sprengtporten era and military education
In 1777, Georg Magnus Sprengtporten established Finland’s first officer training school here, teaching military intelligence, map drawing, and military sciences. By the late 18th century, the building had become a centre of education and culture.
When Finland came under Russian rule in 1809, the allotment system was abolished, and the building was rented to private owners. From 1951 to 1991, it served as a home economics school, graduating around 2,300 students. It later served also as an adult education centre and a daycare centre.
Thanks to a volunteer-led restoration project started in 2013, the building has been restored and now thrives with a new purpose.
Located in the western wing, the Rock Art Visitor Centre Astuva showcases Saimaa’s history and the origins of its rock paintings. Visitors can learn about the significance of rock art within European cultural heritage and experience its fascinating geological settings.