Monola society
Monola society (Monola-seura ry) was founded in the 150th anniversary year of composer Jean Sibelius' birth, in 2015. The society was registered on 14 August 2015. The purpose of the society is to work in the Pielinen-Karelia region to preserve, maintain, promote and make the heritage of Sibelius, Kalevala and karelianism known in this day. The association is based in Lieksa.
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The most urgent and concrete matter of the association was to renovate the honeymoon destination of Jean and Aino Sibelius, the Monola granary in Lieksa, and to open the granary for cultural, tourism and village activities. The renovation became possible, when the City of Lieksa donated the Monola granary and leased the land to the Monola society for ten years in March 2016.
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Sibelius’s honeymoon granary and its surroundings were restored and its operation was developed with Vaara Karjala Association's LEADER funding in 2016–2018. Cellist Jussi Makkonen's donations that consisted of record and concert ticket sales had a vital importance in applying for the funding. Also dozens of active volunteers played a significant role in the projects.
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The Monola granary was renovated in cooperation with the Finnish National Board of Antiquities. The granary was opened by Maria Lohela, speaker of the Parliament of Finland, during the first Monola Festival in 2017.
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The Monola society continues the development work of the Monola concept as well as the cultural, tourism and village activities connected to Jean and Aino Sibelius' honeymoon. The audience will be able to enjoy the results of the development work during the annual Monola Festival in early July.
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The Monola granary is open to all visitors in the middle of the summer, and open to groups during summer. The granary can be reached either by guided boat trips or by car. See the driving directions to the granary,
Opening hours
Open in the summer.
Opening hours in 2020:
30.6–31.7.2020
Tuesday–Sunday from 11AM to 4PM, closed on Mondays
Open for groups on request.
Tickets
Adults 5 €
Children (ages 7 to 12) 1 €
Free entry for children under 7 years
Address
Monola Granary
Monolanniementie, Lieksa
(guide signs from Vartialantie)