What is the Suomenlinna fortress?
Suomenlinna sea fortress is a Unesco World Heritage Site located on the coast of Helsinki, and also a suburb of Helsinki with around 800 residents. The fortress was shaped by three historic eras when it helped to defend first Sweden, then Russia and ultimately Finland.
How many people live on Suomenlinna?
800 residents
Suomenlinna is home to around 800 residents and 400-500 people work in the fortress all year round. Unesco World Heritage Site is visited by approximately one million visitors yearly. Suomenlinna islands hosts for example museums, artists work rooms, naval academy and open prison.
Why is Suomenlinna fortress famous?
The Swedish crown commenced the construction of the fortress in 1748 as protection against Russian expansionism. The general responsibility for the fortification work was given to Augustin Ehrensvärd. Famous for these bastion fortifications, Suomenlinna became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
What country is Suomenlinna fortress?
Built in the second half of the 18th century by Sweden on a group of islands located at the entrance of Helsinki’s harbour, this fortress is an especially interesting example of European military architecture of the time.
Why was Suomenlinna built?
Situated on a group of islands off Helsinki, Suomenlinna was built during the Swedish era as a maritime fortress and a base for the Archipelago Fleet. Work on the fortress began in 1748.
How do you get to Suomenlinna fortress?
Suomenlinna is accessible only by water. A ferry service runs from the Market Square to Suomenlinna throughout the year. During summer and autumn, a water bus service to Suomenlinna is also available. The guest harbour in the middle of Suomenlinna caters to visitors arriving by their own boats.
What is the name of Finland’s endless summer day in Lapland?
The midsummer festival at the end of June is the ideal time to experience the midnight sun. The bonfires and celebrations on this special evening herald the summer holiday of the Finns, who now say goodbye to nature and leave the cities. The fires are called “Kokko”.
How old is Suomenlinna?
The story of Suomenlinna, originally called Sveaborg or Viapori in Finnish, begun in 1748 when Sweden begun fortification work on the Susiluodot islands off Helsinki. Swedish era of the fortress continued for 60 years until 1808, when Viapori was besieged by the Russian forces in the Russo-Swedish war.
How do I get to Vallisaari?
Vallisaari and Kuninkaansaari are located in Helsinki, next to the Suomenlinna sea fortress, 20 minutes by boat from the Market Square. A water bus will take you to Vallisaari, from where you can walk over to Kuninkaansaari along a neck of land, much like a breakwater.
Which country has 24 hours darkness?
The Arctic Circle marks the southern extremity of the polar day (24-hour sunlit day, often referred to as the midnight sun) and polar night (24-hour sunless night). In Finnish Lapland, the sun sets in late November and generally does not rise until mid-January. This can last as long as 50 days in northern Finland.
How do I get to Suomenlinna?
Where is the Suomenlinna sea fortress in Finland?
Suomenlinna ( Finnish; until 1918 Viapori ), or Sveaborg ( Swedish ), is an inhabited sea fortress built on eight islands about 4 km southeast of the city center of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is popular with tourists and locals, who enjoy it as a picturesque picnic site.
When was the king’s gate in Suomenlinna built?
Exploring the old bunkers, crumbling fortress walls and cannons will give you an insight into this fortress, and there are plenty of grassy picnic spots. Monumental King’s Gate was built in 1753–54 as a two-storey fortress wall, which had a double drawbridge and a stairway added.
When did Sweden surrender Suomenlinna fortress to Russia?
During the Finnish War, Sweden surrendered the fortress to Russia on 3 May 1808, paving the way for the occupation of Finland by Russian forces in 1809, and the eventual cession of Finland to Russia at the conclusion of the war. Russia held the fortress until Finnish independence in 1918.
How long did it take to build Suomenlinna in Finland?
Using the military garrisoned in Finland as the workforce, construction continued with over 6,000 workers in 1750. Fortifications at Gustavssvärd were completed in 1751 and the main fortifications on Vargö were ready in 1754. The fortress was fully operational though unfinished.