Oulu Totally Explained

Everything about Oulu totally explained

Oulu is a city and municipality of about 130,000 inhabitants in the province of Oulu and the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the largest and most important city in Northern Finland and the sixth largest city in the country. Its population growth rate is almost comparable with that of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Oulu has a namesake in the United States, Oulu, Wisconsin, which is a village with a population of about 540.

History

Oulu was founded on July 20th 1605 by King Karl IX of Sweden opposite to the castle built on the island of Linnansaari. This took place after favourable peace settlements with the Russians, which removed the threat of attack via the main east-west waterway, the river Oulu. The surrounding areas were populated much earlier. Oulu is situated by the Gulf of Bothnia, at the mouth of river Oulujoki, which is an ancient trading site. One source for the name Oulu is a word in the Sami language meaning 'flood water', but there are other suggestions. Oulu has been the capital of the Oulu Province since 1776.
In 1822, a major fire destroyed much of the city. The architect Carl Ludvig Engel, chiefly known for the neo-classical (empire style) buildings around Helsinki Senate Square, was enlisted to provide the plan for the rebuilding of the city. With minor changes, this plan remains the basis for the layout of Oulu's town center. The Oulu Cathedral was built in 1832 to his designs, with the spire being finished in 1844.
From being a town known for wood tar and salmon in the past, Oulu has evolved into a major centre of competence in the field of high technology, particularly IT and wellness technology. Other prominent industries include wood refining as well as paper and steel industry. The University of Oulu is located six kilometres north of the city center. The Oulu Airport, located in neighbouring municipality of Oulunsalo, is the second busiest in Finland.

Cultural life

The cultural life in Oulu is rich and varied. The best known cultural exports of the city of Oulu are Air Guitar World Championships, Mieskuoro Huutajat (also known as Screaming Men), and the now defunct metal band Sentenced.
There are many artists, writers and musicians resident in the city. A variety of concerts, both rock, classical music, and jazz, as well as other cultural events take place each year; for example, Oulu Music Video Festival - the host of the Air Guitar World Championships and Musixine Music Film Competition - in August, annual rock festival Qstock in July, the Oulu Music Festival in winter, the Oulunsalo Music Festival in summer, and the International Children's Film Festival in November. Many people who have made a significant contribution to the cultural and political life of Finland have been born or have lived in Oulu, for example, the composer Leevi Madetoja, and the writer Paavo Rintala. Three former Presidents of the country, Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg, Kyösti Kallio and Martti Ahtisaari also went to school there, attending the Oulu Lyceum.

Sights

Tietomaa, a science center with over 150 exhibits
Ainola Park, formerly a university botanical garden before the university was moved to Linnanmaa
The Rapids Center, the area in the estuary of the Oulu river consisting of small islands connected with bridges, fountains in the middle of the river, and including a housing area of building blocks planned by Alvar Aalto
Rotuaari pedestrian street
The Market Square with the City Library, the City Theatre and old salt and tar storehouses
Mannerheim Park
The Oulu Cathedral
Hupisaaret, a large park area located in the estuary of the Oulu river
The F. M. Franzen memorial
The Northern Ostrobothnia museum
The Pateniemi Sawmill Museum
The Vehicle Museum
The University of Oulu Botanical Garden (situated in Linnanmaa)
The Oulu Art Museum
The Arctic Gallery
Technopolis, the technology village
Turkansaari (website) (historical outdoor museum)

Other points of interest

Oulu Music Video Festival

Air Guitar World Championships

Qstock Rock Festival (website

)

Jalometalli Metal Music Festival

Jalometalli Winterfest

Oulu City Theatre (website

)

Madetoja Hall, housing the Oulu Music Centre (website

) the residence of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra

Oulu Children's Theatre Festival (website

)

The University of Oulu

Oulu Hall (a large indoor sports facility consisting of a low dome, which looks somewhat like a landed flying saucer)

Nallikari Recreational Centre (with sandy beach and camping grounds)

Eden Hotel & Spa (in Nallikari)

Terwa Marathon & Run

event in late May (since 1989)

The Terva-skiing event in early March (since 1889)

The Oulu Horse Show

The American Car Show

The Winter Swimming World Championship

Oulu University of Applied Sciences (formerly Oulu Polytechnic)

Nightlife

Kaarlenholvi, Kauppurienkatu. A very popular pub & nightclub, for all ages.

45 Special, Saaristonkatu, started as a rock club, the "45" (known simply as "numero", the number) is a venue for nationally touring rock bands. It has two dance floors for popular rock, pop, electro, reggae and so on. Occasional electronic music clubs and various other music events.

Hevimesta, Torikatu, a heavy metal and rock club.

Never Grow Old, Hallituskatu, small loungy bar with a variety of live gigs, shows and djs; incl. funk, jazz, brazilectro, soul, ska, reggae, salsa... and unisex toilets.

Club Teatria, Härkätie, the largest indoor rock club in Finland and venue for rock concerts.

Onnela, Isokatu, a popular club (part of a national chain) with four different floors playing four different styles of music: rock, suomipop (Finnish pop), 80s and dance.

Cabaret, a trendy nightclub.

Amarillo, Kirkkokatu, a tex-mex restaurant with a disco for pop and dance sounds in the basement.

Bar Becksu, Asemakatu. A "hetero friendly" gay bar.

Nightclub Tähti, a nightclub for more mature audience. Large indoor venue with traditional dancing music performers playing every weekend.

Hietasaaren Tanssimajakka, located in Hietasaari near Nallikari beach, a traditional dancing venue for more mature audience, open on summer weekends.

Transportation

Air

Oulu is served by Oulu Airport, the second biggest airport in Finland by passenger volume. There are non-stop scheduled flights to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (around 18 daily flights with Finnair and Blue1) and Rovaniemi Airport (1 daily with Finnair) as well as charter flights to Southern Europe, Canary Isles and starting from next winter, to Phuket in Thailand.
In 2008, Air Baltic begun flying to Oulu Airport, offering a direct connection to its main hub Riga International Airport in Latvia, and connecting flights to airports in most European countries.
Oulu Airport is located in the neighbouring county of Oulunsalo, 15 km from the city centre. It can be reached by bus number 19 from the centre of the city and Technopolis.

Sea

Port of Oulu is one of the busiest harbours within the Bothnian Bay. Port of Oulu includes four separate harbour areas: Vihreäsaari oil and bulk docks, Nuottasaari docks, Oritkari docks and the Toppila docks.

Rail

The shortest travel time from Oulu Railway Station to Helsinki Central Railway Station is 5 h 44 mins, operated by VR. There are also night trains with beds taking 8-11 hours; the newest night train cars are double deckers and have showers and toilets in the cabins. Other destinations include, for instance, Kolari, Rovaniemi, Seinäjoki and Tampere.

Road

Helsinki 610 km S

Jyväskylä 333 km S

Kotka 582 km S

Kuopio 284 km SSE

Kuusamo 215 km NI

Lahti 505 km S

Lappeenranta 548 km SSE

Pori 501 km SSW

Rovaniemi 207 km NE

Tampere 476 km SSW

Tornio 131 km NNW

Turku 620 km SSW

Vaasa 290 km SW

Sports

The Oulu ice hockey team Kärpät have won the Finnish Ice Hockey League (SM-Liiga) Championships five times (1981, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008). They have also won silver of European champion two times, in 2004 and 2005. Terwa Marathon & Run

event in late May (since 1989)

Most important employers (2006)

City of Oulu, 9,581

Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District, 5,427

Nokia Group, 4,590

University of Oulu, 3,030

The Oulu Region Joint Authority for Education, 1,466

Stora Enso Group, 1,080

Kesko Group, 1,046

Cooperative Arina-Group (S-Group), 752

Finland Post Ltd, 700

Deaconesses' Institution, 603

Town twinning

Sister cities

Alta, Norway

Arkhangelsk, Russia

Boden, Sweden

Bursa, Turkey

Halle, Germany

Leverkusen, Germany

Odessa, Ukraine

Siófok, Hungary

Friendship cities

Sendai, Japan (since 2005)Further Information

Get more info on 'Oulu'.

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