About Joensuu

Why come all the way to Joensuu?

… a fair question, but take a short look at what it is like here and you may find your answer:

In short: Joensuu is the perfect destination for anyone who loves nature!

Nestled between the rolling hills of North Karelia and the stunning Finnish lakeland, the town is surrounded by water on one side and on the other by forests, which are criss-crossed by numerous hiking and mountain-biking trails and will be full of fresh, delicious blueberries when the Colloquium is held. If you like outdoor activities like hiking, biking, canoeing, wild swimming, or simply having a stroll through nature, there is no better place for you. To take it all in, we recommend spending some more time here and joining our excursion that will be organised to Koli National Park – home to Finland’s most iconic landscapes – but even if you’re “only” there for the Colloquium, this environment will make for a unique conference atmosphere unlike any other. Finland has been ranked the “World’s Happiest Country” five years in a row and the accessibility of nature is one of the key reasons why – as you’ll doubtlessly experience when you’re here!

As the capital of Finland’s North Karelia region, Joensuu also offers a unique cultural experience. This is where East meets West, which can be seen for example in the historic architecture or tasted in the local cuisine, some of which you will have an opportunity to savour if you join our conference dinner. The region, its culture and history are furthermore presented in the North Karelian Museum or the Joensuu Art Gallery, both of which are in the city centre and well worth a visit. Besides, we also recommend you partake in the most Finnish of all traditions and go to one of Joensuu’s many saunas. For instance, saunas are available in all hotels or you could visit the public sauna “Jääkarhut”, where you can also take a dip in the lake. This is not just a relaxing way to spend an evening, but also an opportunity to get to know Finland’s unique sauna culture, which has been recognised as an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

You can find more information about Joensuu’s natural and cultural attractions on the websites of Visit Joensuu, Visit Karelia, and Visit Finland.

Suffice it to say, this will be a Colloquium you won’t want to miss!

Supporters of the Colloquium:

The IUCN AEL Colloquium 2023 is proudly supported by Transnational Environmental Law and Cambridge University Press.

Edward Elgar will be hosting a book display at the venue and are pleased to offer delegates a special Conference Discount for selected books available here: https://bit.ly/ee-display