Three Major Landmarks in Finland
Visitors to Finland are typically enamored with its landscapes: far-flung archipelagos, pristine lakes and frozen northern expanses magically illuminated by the northern lights. Upon further exploration of its friendly cities and towns, though, you might find some of Finland's landmarks rival their spectacular surroundings. Three major landmarks in particular stand out for their universal appeal.
Fortress of Suomenlinna
The Fortress of Suimenlinna, also known as the Fortress of Finland, was built in the late 18th century over a group of islands at the entrance to Helsinki’s harbor. The fortress is described as “a unique historical monument and one of the largest maritime fortresses in the world” by UNESCO, which has named it a World Heritage Site. Historically, the fortress was the main station in Finland for armed forces during its time under the Swedish realm, and it was occupied by Russian forces in the early 19th century. After Finnish independence in 1918, the remaining 3.7 miles of walls and 190 buildings were preserved as a historic monument and one of Finland’s most popular tourist attractions. The visitor center in the middle of the fortress offers a museum exhibition and is the starting point for walking tours. Guided tours in English are available daily in summer and on weekends in winter.
Petajavesi Old Church
Another of Finland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Petajavesi Old Church in central Finland was built from logs between 1763 and 1765 in a style of architecture and mode of construction specific to eastern Scandinavia. The Evangelical Lutheran church is considered an outstanding example of timber church architecture, combining Renaissance and Gothic elements and most likely modeled after a stone church built in Stockholm in 1656. It also represents the considerable skill of its designer, a “peasant master-builder,” according to UNESCO, as well as the artisans who carved its ornate interiors. The church’s location on a peninsula at the conjunction of two lakes provides a stunning backdrop to the church, its surrounding graveyard and encircling stone wall. Petajavesi Old Church is open to visitors daily in summer and by appointment in winter; guided tours are available. Services are conducted on Sunday mornings in summer, and concerts are offered on Wednesday evenings, as of publication.
Olavinlinna Castle, which overlooks the Lakeland region town of Savonlinna from its rocky islet setting, is called “one of Europe’s most dramatic castles” by Lonely Planet. The castle was founded in 1475 by a Danish-born knight and was intended to protect the then-barely populated but geopolitically important Savo region from Russian invasion. Its varied architecture tells a history of battles and revolving ownership, leading to its penultimate incarnation as a prison before it was ultimately deserted. Maintained as an antiquity and later a tourist attraction, Olavinlinna Castle is today best known for the opera festival held there annually. Visitors can learn about the castle and life inside its walls at two exhibitions -- the Castle Museum and the Orthodox Museum – and take guided tours of its towers, halls and rooms. Tours in English are offered hourly from June to mid-August.
Some of the most notable landmarks in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, are around Sentate Square: Helsinki Cathedral, completed in 1852 in the grand empire-style architecture of St. Petersburg; the Government Palace, the University of Helsinki’s main building; and the National Library of Finland. Also nearby is Sederholm House, the oldest stone building in the city. Other landmarks in Helsinki include the Olympic Stadium built in 1938; the 1920s red granite Parliament building with its 14 Corinthian columns; the Sibelius Monument, a huge statue made from more than 600 welded-together organ pipes; and the late 19th century Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, the largest orthodox church in western Europe. Elsewhere in Finland, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town of Rauma features more than 600 wooden houses, making it the largest and one of the best-preserved Nordic wooden coastal towns. Bengtskar Lighthouse, built in 1906, is the tallest in Scandinavia and offers unmatched views over the coast. Another interesting and uniquely Scandinavian landmark is Jatkankamppa, an authentic lumberjack lodge from the 1950s that houses the world’s biggest smoke sauna.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Fortress of Suomenlinna
- Visit Helsinki: Main Attractions in Helsinki
- Visit Helsinki: Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Petajavesi Old Church
- The Old Church of Petajavesi
- National Board of Antiquities: Olavinlinna Castle
- The Official Travel Site of Finland: Sights
- NA/Photos.com/Getty Images