Parikkala is located around lake Simpele and it is a part of a countryside rich with hills and chains of ridges.

In 1910 the first three-class school building was built; later it expanded to include a gymnasium, hall and kitchen.

[clarification needed] A grand piano was provided in the hall, and Finnish artists Toivo Kuula and Oskar Merikanto held their concerts there when visiting Parikkala.

Traveling time is about three and half hours from Helsinki, and all passenger trains stop at Parikkala.

One of Parikkala's most famous attractions is the park of more than 500 sculptures worked by Veijo Rönkkönen [fi], located along the Highway 6.