Iivanansaari

Iivanansaari – The Historic Burial Chamber of a Jäger Prisoner

Experience an exceptional piece of Finnish history in the middle of a beautiful lake landscape!

On Iivanansaari, you will find yourself amidst real and touching history. In Rautjärvi, on an island in the clear-watered Lake Koantausjärvi, lies the unique burial chamber built by Finnish Jäger prisoner Jussi Reinikainen. This peculiar building is an exact concrete replica of a cell in St. Petersburg's Spalernaya Prison, where Reinikainen awaited the execution of his death sentence in 1916.

A fascinating story and a striking sight: Fortunately, the death sentence was never carried out due to the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. Decades later, Reinikainen wanted to preserve the memory of the Jägers and built an exact replica of the cell as his own burial place.

• Curiosity: Before his death in 1969, Reinikainen managed to use his completed burial chamber as his own fishing cabin for a remarkable nine years!

• What you'll see on site: On the roof of the burial chamber, there is a lion statue gazing vigilantly eastward. Although the chamber door was permanently sealed after Reinikainen's urn was placed, you can peek inside the stark cell through an original-style guard's inspection hatch and a barred window.

Practical information for your visit:

• Location: Iivanansaari is located in Lake Koantausjärvi in Rautjärvi, quite close to the Haukkavuori hiking areas.

• Getting there: The island is only a couple of hundred metres from the mainland. On the mainland shore, there is usually a rowing boat available for visitors to use to row to the site.

• Please note: There is no designated parking space for cars right by the boat shore, so the destination is excellent as a stage for a cycling trip or hike (e.g., from Simpele or Haukkavuori parking area).