Simpele is a built-up area and a former municipality of Finland in the South Karelia region, originally in the Viipuri Province and after the Second World War, the Kymi Province.

Like Parikkala, Saari and Uukuniemi, Simpele is traditionally seen as belonging to Ladoga Karelia.

The original settlements in the area were the villages of Kivijärvi and Änkilä, belonging to the Parikkala parish.

[2] Industrialization began in the late 19th century with the construction of a sawmill and a brick factory near the Juvankoski rapids.

[3] The southeastern part of the municipality was ceded to the Soviet Union in the Moscow Peace Treaty, however the main area remained Finnish.