Memorial Stone of Toppelius

The touching tale of Birch and the Star, written by Sakari Topelius, is based on events that happened in Muhos.

Kristoffer, the grandfather of the father of the storyteller Sakari Topelius, fled with his mother in 1714 to live in a small forest croft in Muhos. However, the Cossacks abducted the boy and took him to Russia. Kristoffer felt homesick, escaped, found Finland and drifted to Stockholm, where he happened to meet his mother. Of these events, Sakari Topelius wrote a touching story called “the Birch and the Star”.

The family hideout was at the site of the Toppelius Memorial Stone during the Great Wrath. The monument was designed and preserved by the Muhos homestead association in 1986. The municipality of Muhos is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the monument. The Birch and Star Cultural Center, named after the fairy tale, is also located in Muhos.

Toppelius Memorial Stone is one of Rokua Geopark’s cultural attractions.