Free community sauna to open this summer on Rovaniemi’s Ounasjoki riverbank

A new public sauna will open this summer on the banks of the Ounasjoki river in Rovaniemi after the Valiosauna association secured a seasonal lease from the city, the Finnish broadcaster Yle reports.

The sauna, operated by the volunteer-run Valiosauna association, will be free to use and is expected to be completed in June, according to the group’s chair, Riku Alasuutari. Construction had been delayed while the city required the project to appoint both a qualified builder and a structural designer before issuing a permit.

This year’s sauna will be roughly 50 percent larger than last summer’s temporary structure, with L-shaped benches accommodating six people. Some materials from the previous sauna will be reused, Alasuutari said.

The association has leased the riverside plot for the season at a cost of €500–600, depending on actual usage days, according to Santeri Korhonen, a permit engineer for the city of Rovaniemi. The lease expires on 30 September, after which the association must clear the site.

Last year, the city ordered the group to remove an unauthorised sauna from Valionranta and later issued a fine of several thousand euros for the illegal use of land. This year’s agreement requires the association to provide toilets and maintain cleanliness on the premises.

Plans for the site include a small gathering area and a path to a swimming spot, though a proposed dock was denied under the permit terms. The group has launched a supporter membership to cover costs and is seeking volunteers for construction.

“We welcome anyone who wants to help build and run the sauna,” Alasuutari said.