Castles of Finland

Linna means fortress or castle

Suomenlinna

Capital moved from Turku to Helsinki –Closer to St. Petersburg –Easier to defend Begun by Sweden, completed by Russia Group of small islands blocking the harbor of Helsinki

Kuningkaanportti (King’s Gate)

Hameenlinna

castle was built in the late 13th century to secure the Swedish power in central Finland The composer Jean Sibelius was born and raised in Hämeenlinna. He graduated from Hämeenlinna Lyseo in 1885.

Surrounded by the lake and a moat

Turunlinna

the largest surviving medieval building in Finland Guards Turku from the banks of the Aura River, as it has done since the 1300s.

Savonlinna (Olavinlinna)

Olaf’s Castle (or the Castle of Savo) The northernmost medieval stone castle still standing Marked the boundary between medieval empires of Russia and Sweden

Viipurinlinna 1293

Swedish/Finnish built Now in the region of Karelia taken by Russia and not returned after WWII

Kastelholminlinna

First built as fortress on Aland Islands (Ahvenmaa – autonomous Finnish province) Later used as a castle for administrative functions

Raaseporinlinna

Raaseporinlinna 1374 A drawing from the 1500’s Originally on an island Now inland

Kiitoksia paljon ja Nakemiin