Savonlinna Mari & Helinä

Basic information  Around 330km from Helsinki  Population 36,584 ( )  An area of 3,598 km², 1,358 km² of which is water  Kerimäki and Punkaharju municipalities merged with Savonlinna in 2013  Pukaharju boasts some of the most beautiful Finnish Lakeland views

Number of tourists in Savonlinna by month There were tourists in Savonlinna in 2013, the biggest tourist groups being from: Finland Russia – Germany – 3 121

How to get there from Helsinki  By car: 3 hours and 40 minutes drive  By bus: It takes about 5,5-6 hours from Helsinki  By air: Savonlinna has an airport, but there are no flights there currently. The nearest airport to Savonlinna is Lappeenranta airport (LPP), 160km away  By train: The train journey takes about 4,5 hours and you will arrive right in the middle of town Savonlinna  By boat: During the summer season, you may reach Savonlinna also by ship. By a regular boat from Punkaharju, Oravi, Heinävesi, Kuopio, Lappeenranta and Puumala.

Short History of Savonlinna  The foundations of the town were laid when Erik Axelsson Tott founded the castle of Olavinlinna on the island of Kyrönsalmi in  A community began to grow up on the island of Vääräsaari next to the castle, and in 1639 a town charter was granted, founding the town of Savonlinna.  Development of the town took off in the early twentieth century with the opening of the Olavin Kylpylaitos spa and the birth of a flourishing sawmill industry.  The construction of the Saimaa canal and the railway further boosted the town's development.

The Savonlinna Opera Festival  The first opera festival was held in 1912 and nowadays it’s held annually during the summer (July to August)  The operas are performed on a stage built inside the Olavinlinna castle  The festival has grown into an internationally recognised festival lasting a month, bringing in a total audience of around 60,000, an estimated quarter of whom come from aboard  Each year the festival has, in addition to staging leading works from classical operatic reportoire, staged its own production

Savonlinna travel  The vibrant region amid the scenic lake district of Saimaa offers perfect setting for cultural, spa, beach, activity or city holidays. Or everything at once!  Savonlinna Travel’s website offers a variety of services, giving information about Savonlinna and the region and of all the things that you can experience there Culture  Many museums and galleries where you can find out about the history of Olavinlinna and Savonlinna region  Open air theatres during summer  Olavinlinna Winter Event 6.1  Ice Festival  Easter Fair 12.4  St. Olav’s Day 29.7  Savonlinna International Nature Film Festival  Savonlinna Medieval Market  St. Thomas Christmas Market 13.12, the annual Christmas Market

Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships  Savonlinna has hosted the mobile phone world championships annually since 2000 in late August.  The organizer of the event was the company Fennolingua and local recycling centers were a partner and they collocted all the toxic waste.  The original purpose of the championships was to throw away frustrations along with the mobile phones.

Activities  You can pursue many outdoor and indoor activities, for example:  Boating  Canoeing  Jet ski safaris  Nature trail hiking  Fishing  Hunting  Horse riding  Cycling  Diving  Linnasaari and Kolovesi national parks offer perfect summertime adventures  You can enjoy either short cruises around the castle, or longer ones around the archipelago.  Lake Saimaa’s archipelago is home to the protected Saimaa ringed seal

Restaurants  As a long-established holiday resort, Savonlinna offers a wide range of dining choices for visitors.  Along the beach by Olavinlinna Castle you can find a nice selection of restaurants and cozy restaurant ships  Beerhouse Sillansuu is one of Finland’s finest bars, with a vast selection of beers.  In the market square you’ll be sure to find Lörtsy, a local delicacy which can be filled with either meat or jam

Charms of Saimaa-tours  Charms of Saimaa oIt has been selected as the first in food destinations by Gloria Food & Wine – Magazine in their Best of 2010 competition  Offers the most attractive and highest quality destinations in the Savonlinna and Mikkeli area to those who are interested in distinctive hotels or farm accommodation, local food in stylish restaurants, atmospheric steamboat cruises, boutiques, culture and exhibitions  You can book the tours from Savonlinna travel website

Accommodation  You can find accommodation from Savonlinna for every budget:  Farm and Manor Houses  Lakeshore cottages  Family hotels  Private apartments  Budget hotels  Camping facilities  Holiday villages  You can also enjoy Spa Hotel Casino and other spas in Savonlinna

Sources:       Pictures:  Google-search