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Welcome to Lapua

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Mayor´s Welcome

Paavo Latva-Rasku
Mayor

e-mail: paavo.latva-rasku@lapua.fi

 

According to the Lapua city strategy, Lapua is a modern entrepreneurial city with many services and a high quality environment. Invaluable history and modern international entrepreneurship meet here. Lapua is a rich, environmentally beautiful city located at the point where the rivers Lapuanjoki and Nurmonjoki join together. Lapua had become independent as early as in 1581. The history of the city can be seen in the buildings, like the bell tower from the end of the 1700s and the Cathedral from the beginning of the 1800s. Along the river there are also farmhouses that are dating back to the same period.

The Cartridge Factory, which nowadays functions as the cultural centre, Lapuan Vanha Paukku, dates back to a century earlier, or from the beginning of the 1900s.  A lot of culture can be found in this nationally recognised cultural centre: City Library, Chapel, Cartridge Gallery, Lapua Cartridge Factory Museum, Ostrobothnian Photographic Centre, Pyhälahti Photography Museum, the Lapua Movement Museum and the  Art  Museum.  Many other cultural enterprises increase the attraction of the area, too.  

Within the field of sport, many Lapua citizens have managed to win medals at the Olympics. Particularly worth mentioning are Lauri Koskela, the Olympic gold medallist in wrestling, Berlin 1936, and the javelin thrower, Tapio Korjus, Seoul 1988. People in Lapua are still very active in sport both on a national and international level. The Simpsiö Ski Centre is a top quality resort, having the highest number of slopes in Western Finland. The half-pipe, built to the same dimensions as at the Nagano Olympics, is truly inspiring.

The entrepreneurship tradition is strong here. Our well-known saying is, "if you can´t get a job, you have to create one". There are almost 1 000 companies in our city, of which many are part of international concerns, and others are traditional family enterprises. The success of our companies is the result of a traditional history of expertise and entrepreneurship. Our  Vocational Education Centre Sedu, Lapua can help students obtain a number of degrees. Besides the comprehensive schools, Lapua also has an upper secondary school, a music institute, Lapua Adult Education Centre and Lapua Christian Institute. Since the metal industry is particularly strong in this region, modern developing companies in this field are particularly encouraged, both now and in the future. Our tourism has developed and grown very much. This area is based on hosting large events throughout the year, culture, winter tourism and history.

The foundation for our city is based on a high quality beautiful environment: there are rivers, fields and the Simpsiö mountain in the landscape. The city has many residential areas both in the centre and in the surrounding villages.

Welcome to Lapua, the family-friendly city!