Karstula is a municipality of Finland founded in 1867. It is located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of 3,625 (31 December 2023) and covers an area of 963.19 square kilometres (371.89 sq mi) of which 76.22 km (29.43 sq mi) is water. The population density is 4.09 inhabitants per square kilometre (10.6/sq mi).

Neighbouring municipalities are Kannonkoski, Kivijärvi, Kyyjärvi, Saarijärvi and Soini.

There are all together 159 lakes in Karstula. Biggest lakes are Pääjärvi, Enonjärvi and Vahanka.

History

The name of Karstula is likely derived from the Savonian surname Karstunen, encountered around Ristiina since 1541. First records of the surname in Northern Tavastia (modern Central Finland) are from the 18th century. Karstula was initially a part of the Saarijärvi parish, acquiring chapel rights in 1775 under it. Karstula was allowed to become a separate parish and municipality in 1858, but separated later in 1887. Kyyjärvi was a part of Karstula until 1929, though it only acquired a separate parish in 1944.

Suomenselkä municipality

Kannonkoski, Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi planned to merge into the Suomenselkä municipality [fi] from January 1, 2022. Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi accepted the merger proposal, but Kannonkoski did not. After Kannonkoski left out of the planned merger, Kivijärvi also left out. The merger project of the remaining Karstula and Kyyjärvi failed at the Kyyjärvi municipal council meeting held on May 17, 2021, and the Ministry of Finance does not propose a forced merger either.

Architecture

• A number of historical buildings (from the beginning of the 20th century) has been preserved in the village centre, representing the original countryside buildings of the region.
• There's also a cottage designed by Alvar Aalto, though it is not listed in most Aalto's biographies.

Transport

Highway 13 between Kokkola and Lappeenranta, main road 58 between Kangasala and Kärsämäki and main road 77 between Kyyjärvi and Siilinjärvi pass through the Karstula municipality.

Karstula is served by OnniBus.com route Helsinki—Jyväskylä—Kokkola.

Notable people

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• Artturi Koskinen (1904–1981), Member of Parliament
• Jarmo Mäkinen (born 1958), actor
• Nätti-Jussi (1890–1964), legendary lumberjack
• Harri Koskinen (born 1970), designer

Culture

• The International Shooting Week

Twin cities

• Broby Municipality, Denmark
• Ragunda, Sweden
• Stjørdal, Norway

Gallery

• 
  Pääjärvi is the largest lake in Karstula.
• 
  Kirkkovuori observation tower.
• 
  Illustration of Karstula in Finland framstäldt i teckningar edited by Zacharias Topelius and published 1845-1852.