The Green Gold Culture Road covers a total distance of around 400 kilometres and runs to the south of highway 5 along the shores of Lake Saimaa, from Vihantasalmi in Mäntyharju via Ristiina, Puumala, Sulkava and Savonlinna to the Lusto Forest Museum and the attractive wood-built village of Putikko in Punkaharju. It also includes ‘detours’ via Anttola, part of Mikkeli, and Rantasalmi. The route is signposted with thematic signs. More information on The Culture Road can be found at www.kulttuuritie.net.
VIHANTASALMI > PUUMALA (115 km) The Green Gold Culture Road starts at Vihantasalmi in the municipality of Mäntyharju. Vihantasalmi bridge, located along road 5, is probably the world’s longest wooden bridge on a main road. While in Mäntyharju, we recommend a visit to Art Centre Salmela. The exhibitions concentrate on contemporary Finnish art of a high standard. The exhibitions feature famous Finnish artists as well as new talents. Mäntyharjuntie 25, phone +358 (0)15 464 5526, www.taidekeskussalmela.fi/english.htm. Another good destination is Tyry vineyard, which makes wine out of Finnish berries. Good souvenirs include the farm’s own port-flavoured mustard. Road 420 takes you from Mäntyharju to Ristiina. Ristiina is home to the Astuvansalmi cave paintings dating from around 5,000 years ago. They are the largest cave paintings in the Nordic region. The cave is located along road 4323, which takes you through beautiful lakeside scenery towards Puumala. A three-kilometre signposted nature trail will take you there. Close to the cave paintings, in Someenjärvi, you will find the Pien-Toijala Farmhouse Museum, a rare monument to past times. All buildings are in their original places and the farm has been run by the same family since 1672. Where the road joins road number 62, take a right towards Puumala. You can also get to Puumala via a detour from Ristiina, taking road 15 to Mikkeli and then road 62 via Anttola. While in Mikkeli, you should visit Kenkävero, which is the largest wooden vicarage in Finland. It is currently a beautiful handicraft centre. Nice architecture, gardens and exhibitions. Pursialankatu 6, phone +358 (0)15 162 230.
PUUMALA > SAVONLINNA (76 km) From Puumala road 434 takes you through the most beautiful lake scenery and after that you can turn onto 435, first to Sulkava where you can do some shopping at Marimekko factory outlet at Alanteentie 3, phone +358 (0)15 676 283. There is also a big rowing event called Sulkavan Suursoudut annually in July. From Sulkava continue on road 435 to Savonlinna.
	Savonlinna (pop. 27,400) is one of the most popular towns in Finland during summer. The Savonlinna Opera Festival brings over 60,000 opera lovers to the town in the month of July. In the small town there are a number of cafés and restaurant terraces and the market place is the centre of life.
	Olavinlinna Castle is the best-preserved medieval fortress in the Nordic countries. In July, the castle serves as the main stage for the Savonlinna Opera Festival and is open to other visitors during the festival and throughout the year. Savonlinna Provincial Museum is situated close to Olavinlinna Castle. The permanent collection is a display of the history of the region, as well as various temporary exhibitions. Nestori - Lake Saimaa Visitor Centre is close to Olavinlinna Castle. The permanent Saimaa Exhibition offers information about the Lakeland, Linnansaari National Park, Kolovesi National Park, Siikalahti bird lake and other protected areas around Savonlinna. Rauhalinna Villa is a romantic wooden villa situated in the village of Lehtiniemi, 16 km from Savonlinna by road 471. You can also get there by waterbus from the harbour. Close to Rauhalinna lies Putkinotko, onetime summer home of a well-known Finnish author Joel Lehtonen (1881-1934), and the setting for his most famous work. Savonlinna is the liveliest centre of boat and cruise traffic in the Saimaa region. Here you can join the scheduled cruise between Savonlinna and Kuopio or Lappeenranta.
From Savonlinna take road 14 to Punkaharju.
	Punkaharju (pop. 4,100). Throughout the ages, the ridge area of Punkaharju has been a source of inspiration for painters and poets and still never fails to impress visitors. The ridges are flanked on both sides by magnificent lake scenery, which is considered an epitome of Finland’s heritage landscape.
	Lusto - the Finnish Forest Museum is a national museum specialising in forestry and is also a diversified exhibition and information centre. It depicts the importance of forests and the interaction between man and forest in the past, the present day and the future. Café-restaurant with Punkaharju heritage food. Open throughout the year. The Retretti Art Centre in Punkaharju is the largest art centre in the Nordic countries and with its underground caverns a sight in itself. The centre comprises 2000 m² of conventional galleries and about 3000 m² of exhibition space in the caverns, which also houses a concert hall for up to a 1000 guests.