Rovaniemi: a Christmas travel

Rovaniemi (Finland)

If you wish to go on a Christmas trip, you must go to Rovaniemi which is Father Christmas´s home village. Would you like to visit it? In Estate One we love Madrid, but we are also very fond of discovering new and different places and above all, those which leave a lasting impression upon us. Christmas is one of our favourite times of the year. Some time ago, in this blog, we wrote about how to decorate your home at Christmas in order to make it look original as well as cosyWe also took a walk along the market in  Plaza Mayor.

Rovaniemi: a Christmas trip

However, this year we decided to go farther away and look for an even greater Christmas scene in all its splendour. There is not a place in the world that can convey a deeper Christmas feeling than Rovaniemi in Finland. In Rovaniemi you can enjoy an awesome winter landscape as well as a visit to the official residence of Father Christmas… and you may even be able to talk to him! This is why today, we suggest that you put on warm clothes, a pair of gloves, a scarf and suitable boots as we are going to invite you into the very heart of Christmas which is in this Finnish village. Do you want to come with us?

Rovaniemi: a Christmas trip

FATHER CHRISTMAS´S HOME VILLAGE

Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland which is near the Arctic Circle and hence, making it one of the coldest cities in Europe. In December the temperature is always below zero.

Rovaniemi: a Christmas trip

It is a privileged place for winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, snowmobile races or riding on dog sleighs. It is also a beautiful place if you wish to enjoy a real Christmas postcard landscape.

Rovaniemi: a Christmas trip

However, what has really made this city famous is Santa Claus Village: a theme park devoted to Father Christmas. Every year, it has thousands of visitors and we must add that it is free of charge.

Rovaniemi: a Christmas trip

When we walk along this village, we seem to be in a fairy tale place and we even feel that friendly elves will appear in the snowy landscape. In Santa Claus Village we can visit Father Christmas´s  Post Office where we can send a letter asking for presents for the children or even see Father Christmas himself who is always delighted to wish a Merry Christmas to those who approach him.

Rovaniemi: a Christmas trip

It is also very interesting to see the reindeers which are typical of the area and they really give the finishing touch to the snow-covered streets, its lights and wooden houses. Santa Claus Village is only 8 kms. away from Rovaniemi and the transport connections are excellent as you can go by train or by bus.

Rovaniemi: a Christmas trip

DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

In 2010, Rovaniemi was officially declared Father Christmas,s  home village. However, this village went through dark and difficult years some decades ago. In the Second World War, Rovaniemi was nearly wiped out to such an extent that at the beginning of the 50´s it had to be rebuilt practically from the ground up. In 1950, the wife of the North American president, Franklin Roosevelt, travelled all the way to this city in Lapland in order to supervise the reconstruction work.

Picture 01: Viergerry

Picture 02: Viaggio Routard

Picture 03: Ulla

Picture 04: Timo Newton-Syms

Picture 05: Cyril Doussin

Picture 06: Elena Giglia

Picture 07: Antti Lindström

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.