Suomenlinna - Finnish fortress on the island: how to get there and what to do. Sveaborg (Suomenlina) - “The most famous landmark of Helsinki is the sea fortress of Sveaborg. Russian cannons, bastions, grottoes, tunnels and much more" The cost of visiting is under

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress (Finnish Suomenlinna - "Finnish Fortress", Swedish. Sveaborg - "Swedish Fortress"), the construction of which was started by the Swedes in 1746, is located on a group of islands near Helsinki. It is a national monument of Finland and at the same time a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1991). More than 600 thousand tourists visit the fortress every year.

Unfortunately, we went to the fortress during the day and we didn’t have much time to explore and we weren’t able to visit everywhere. Of course, it is better to go for the whole day. If desired, in Suomenlinna fortress You can stay overnight; in the center of the fortress there is a small hostel (open throughout the year) with the same name. Just remember that in the hostel the shower and toilet are shared) In addition to the shared bedrooms, there are 1, 2 and 3-bed rooms. There is also a kitchen and Internet access. You can check the prices if you wish.

Built when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden, Sveaborg Fortress surrendered to Russian troops in 1808 during the Finnish War. As you remember, it was after the end of this Russian-Swedish war and the conclusion of the Friedrichsham Peace Treaty (in 1809) that Finland became part of the Russian Empire and began to be called Grand Duchy of Finland. The fortress, accordingly, was also occupied by the Russian garrison for the next 108 years, until the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917. In 1918, the fortress acquired a new name - Suomenlinna fortress.

Small photo sketches during a summer walk. Fortress bastions, coastal defense line, sand ramparts, cannons, seascape... there is something to see there)))

The fortress church was built for the Russian garrison in 1854; it was originally Orthodox and had five domes. After Finland gained independence, it became Evangelical Lutheran, was partially rebuilt, and four domes were removed. Now the church spire is also used as a lighthouse for sea and air transport.

Suomenlinna Fortress Tourist Information Point

Tourist Information Center(Suomenlinna Center) is located in the central part Suomenlinna fortress. Here you can get a map, get information about walking routes, etc. There is also a souvenir shop, a cafe and the Suomenlinna Museum. Tourist excursions depart from here. The main tourist route on the map of the fortress is marked in blue and passes through all the main attractions. The length of the route is about 1.5 km; when you walk around the territory of the fortress, you will see that the inscriptions of the signs for this route also have a blue background.

Tourist information center opening hours:

from May 2 to September 30 - daily, from 10-00 to 18-00
from October 1 to April 30 - daily, from 10-30 to 16-30

Only walking is allowed on site. In addition, it is especially noted that each visitor is independently responsible for his own safety. This is due to the fact that the islands are rocky and there are many quite dangerous places, so be careful.

If you visit the fortress with a dog, your pet must be on a leash. Dog waste must be removed by the dog owner. Actually, these are the usual requirements for Finland.

Lighting fires and making kebabs (barbecues) is also prohibited. If you really want to have a snack in nature, but don’t want to sit in a cafe, then snacks and lunches can be bought at the Siwa grocery store, located near the main pier.

There are tunnels inside the fortifications, most of which are located on the islands of Kustaanmiekka ("King's Sword") and Susisaari ("Wolf Island"). Some tunnels are open to visitors.

Let's continue our walk

Occasionally, you can stumble upon old barrels of formerly formidable guns, now simply piled in the grass.

If you are tired, you can sit down and admire the seascape

Symbol Suomenlinna fortress- monumental Royal Gate, built in 1753-1754 as the main entrance to the fortress.

The location and name of the gate is also not accidental - it was in this place that the ship of the Swedish monarch Adolf Frederick moored in 1752 ( Swede. Adolf Fredrik), who arrived on the island to personally observe the construction.

On the main fortress square of Suomenlinna there is the grave of the founder and first commandant of the fortress - Swedish field marshal Augustin Ehrensvärd ( Swede. Augustin Ehrensvärd). Sveaborg Fortress (Swede. Sveaborg) was built according to his drawings and is considered the main achievement of his activities. Of course, when Augustin Ehrensvärd began building the fortress, he was not yet a field marshal, but had the rank of colonel. After construction was completed, he was promoted to major general.

Walking through the fortress territory, you will see a small (length 40 m, total displacement 381 tons, crew 20 people) submarine built before World War II for the German navy. Moreover, the submarine was laid down and built at the Crichton-Vulcan shipyard in the Finnish city Turku. Launching took place in 1931 (the submarine was given the number CV-707), tests also took place in coastal waters Turku.

In 1936, the Finns bought a submarine for the Finnish Navy and renamed it "Vesikko" ("Vesikko" - mink). During the Finnish campaign of 1939, "Vesiko" did not take part in active hostilities, but in the period 1941-1944 it carried out reconnaissance and patrolling. Based in the Suomenlinna area. After the war, all Finnish submarines were destroyed (according to the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947, Finland, in particular, is prohibited from having a submarine fleet) and Vesiko is the only submarine of the Finnish Navy that we can see.

In 1959, "Vesiko" was transferred to the military museum ( Sota Museum), and in 1973 they transported it to Suomenlinna, where after restoration it was opened for visitors, you can see the internal structure and understand the conditions under which the submariners served. Unfortunately, we were not able to get inside. I hope it will work out on your next visit to the fortress)))

Cost of visiting the submarine "Vesiko"

Visits are open in the summer (say, for the 2014 season: from May 5 to September 30). Opening hours: from 11-00 to 18-00. Ticket sales end at 17:45. Entry fee:

adult - 5.0 euros
family ticket - 12.0 euros
children under 7 years old - free

How to get to Suomenlinna Fortress

Of course, you can only get to the sea fortress by water. There are two options:

by local service (HSL) ferry, which departs from Market Square East Pier ( Kauppatori, Fin. Kauppatori) during the whole year. The ferry arrives at the fortress at the main pier
by waterbus on the JT-Linen line (this option is only available in summer, from May to September). Stops at the pier at the Royal Gate and Suomenlinna Center

The ferry ride takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Ferry tickets can be purchased from a ticket machine or from the ferry line ticket office on the Market Square (open only in summer). if you have "Helsinki Card", then the trip is free.

Cost of visiting Suomenlinna Fortress

The question is interesting, but, in this case, unnecessary. Entrance to the fortress is free. You only need to pay for travel. Currently (according to the HSL website at the beginning of 2014):

I marked the ticket Suomenlinna-lippu, which is valid for 12 hours (from the moment of activation at the reader) and is relevant only for ferry travel to Suomenlinna fortress. For children from 7 to 16 years old - 2.5 euros. In principle, the ferry is part of Helsinki city transport and all HSL tickets are valid on it ( Finnish Helsingin seudun liikenne). But the ticket Suomenlinna-lippu convenient. Please note that HSL tickets are not valid on the waterbus.

In addition, a walking tour with a guide (available in English and Russian) is also paid, costs 10 euros. By "Helsinki Card"- for free.

A separate fee is charged for visiting museums: the Suomenlinna Museum, the Toy Museum (located on the island of Iso Mustasaari) and the Manege War Museum. Tickets are inexpensive, around 5-6 euros, children's tickets are cheaper, family tickets are available. Please note that until late at Finland do not work))) There is also the Ehrensvärd Museum and the Customs Museum. The opening hours of museums in the fortress are from about 10-30 to 16-30 (17-00).

A walk in the fresh sea air is very good for health and, among other things, causes an increased appetite. And then the Finns approached this problem thoroughly and solved it completely: they won’t let you die of hunger, there is a restaurant, a restaurant-brewery and several cafes. The island of Susisaari is home to the first traditional Japanese tea room in Finland.

You will find all the necessary information, a tourist map, opening hours of museums and other institutions on the official website Suomenlinna fortress.

Suomenlinna Fortress (Sveaborg) is located on 8 islands and is located near the capital of Finland, Helsinki. It was built for military purposes, to protect first the route to Stockholm, then only the Finnish capital. These days it is a magnificent sight.

These surroundings are not only a way to diversify your holiday in Helsinki, but also a reason for a separate trip. It takes a long time to get acquainted with local history and realize how strangely the fate of these lands developed.

Panorama on the island of Suomenlinna in Helsinki - Google Maps

Historical buildings, special landscape design and local flora and fauna are not the limit for an inquisitive tourist. Sveaborg has a rich infrastructure.

Since 1991, Sveaborg has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Even in photographs, the views of the mighty fortress look very inspiring. At any time of the year, this place will find something to surprise you.

For example, the island of Iso-Mustasaari will be more appealing to those who want to visit the museums, learn about how power changed on the islands, how the construction and weapons industry developed here. The island of Kustaanmiekka and the recently opened Vallisaari will appeal to lovers of ecotourism. Each area of the ensemble is charming in its own way.

origin of name

The first name of the fortress is Sveaborg. It translates simply: “Swedish Fortress.” This is what the Russians also called it when Finland was part of the Russian Empire. The Finns at that time called the fortress Viapori (same translation).

In 1917, Finland became independent and no longer wanted the islands protecting the Finnish capital to be called Swedish. The name Viapori was changed to Suomenlinna (“Finnish Fortress”) in 1918.

The Swedes, however, continue to use the word Sveaborg, and the Russians have adopted a second name - Suomenlinna. In our language, it is generally accepted that the name of the fortress is variable, and both options are correct.

Story

The islands themselves on which the fortress is located are called “Wolf Skerries”. These are 8 rocky pieces of land with Finnish names: Kustaanmiekka, Iso-Mustasaari, Pikku-Mustasaari, Länsi-Mustasaari, Susisaari, Särkkä, Lonna and Pormestarinluodot.

Documentary about the history of Sveaborg Fortress

The war period in northern Europe provided the islands with a rich history. It so happened that this area experienced three periods: Swedish, Russian and, finally, Finnish.

Here in the 1740s. The Swedish government decided to build military fortifications. Major Augustin Ehrensvärd was appointed in charge. This was the beginning of an architectural ensemble that has survived to this day.

In 1808, the Russians besieged the fortress and received it without casualties, but with a large number of prisoners in addition. At first they do not develop local territories, they only build an Orthodox church.

During the Crimean War, they were forced to erect cannons towards Sweden (they still stand on the islands). The Finns complained a lot about the behavior of the Russians during the years of dependence on the empire. In 1905, local residents staged their first uprising, which later served as the plot for the film.

In 1972, the USSR and Finland made a joint film “Sveaborg”. The film shows the bloody revolutionary uprising inside the fortress in 1905, which ended with a mass of executions of the Bolsheviks.

In 1917, Finland gained independence. During the Civil War (1918), the fortress was used as a concentration camp for Red Guards. World War II in 1941-1944. turned the fortress into a base for the German flotilla. After the end of the war, the lands passed to the USSR, but later returned to the Finns, who began careful restoration of local buildings.

Suomenlinna is now the cultural and historical center of Finland, with stunning views and a rich heritage - in 1991 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

There were times when the population on the islands numbered up to 10 thousand people, but today there are only 800-900 indigenous people here - the rest of the families moved to Helsinki. Many people here live in historic buildings that are constantly being renovated.

Sights of Sveaborg Fortress

The rich history of the fortress has awarded it with a large number of attractions. The local population now lives in historical buildings, Russian cannons line the banks, and various museums operate daily.

Royal Gate

The stone gate, preserved from the very foundation of the fortress, is literally a symbol of Sveaborg. The Swedish king passed through them from the royal bay to his possessions, then making his way through secret passages.

Submarine

A German World War II submarine dominates the bay off the island's shore and is part of the Suomenlinna Naval Museum. Its imposing appearance once struck fear into the hearts of civilians, but now it is only a memory of difficult times and part of a museum of naval equipment.

Church

The large building of the Lutheran Church surprises with its multi-tasking: it is both a spiritual building and a beacon. Once upon a time this church was Orthodox, but now it is designed entirely according to Protestant canons. You can come to this modest but very beautiful place for peace of mind.

Memorial plate in honor of V. G. Belinsky

News for many tourists is the information that Suomenlinna is the birthplace of the Russian critic Vissarion Grigorievich Belinsky. He was born here in 1811 on board a Russian ship. On the territory of the fortress, a personalized memorial plaque was laid in his honor, with an inscription in three languages: Swedish, Russian and Finnish.

Museums

There are several museums of various types on the islands:

Suomenlinna Museum. This is a key building. Here visitors are given a general history of the fortress, from its foundation to the Finnish War, from World War II to the present day.
Customs. The permanent exhibition in the museum is dedicated to the history of the Finnish customs service and the fight against smuggling. The museum building was built in the 18th century.
Ehrensvärd Museum. It is located in an area that is loved not only by tourists, but also by local residents. This is a place for relaxation and meetings. At the entrance to the museum there is a monument to the founder of Sveaborg, Augustin Ehrensvärd. He is buried here. The exposition of the object is dedicated to his life and the first years of the fortress’s existence.
Toy Museum in Suomenlinna. A favorite place for all children and everyone interested in unusual things. The permanent exhibition presents a collection of antique toys from the beginning. XIX century until the 1960s
Manege Military Museum, Vesikko Submarine Museum And "Sea Fortress Suomenlinna" show guests various exhibitions dedicated to the wonders of European and Russian military equipment.

Entrance to all museums is paid, with the exception of customs.

Infrastructure

Suomenlinna has long been accustomed to hosting guests, so the infrastructure here is well developed. You can find shopping centers, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. For cultural recreation there is a library and a gallery of modern fine art.

If you want to spend every day of your trip on these amazing islands, you can stay in a local hostel, Hostel Suomenlinna. In May-September, it is better to reserve a place in advance, as there are a lot of applicants.

There are beaches near the Gulf of Finland where you can sunbathe and swim. You should definitely take a walk through the English Garden park - it is distinguished by different plants that are usually difficult to find growing in the neighborhood. A special “fortress” flora was formed here thanks to various peoples engaged in the improvement of this territory.

How to get to Suomenlinna Fortress in Helsinki

Purchase a single ticket for public transport in the city in advance. In any case, you won’t be able to get to the place by taxi or your own car, but this ticket will allow you to board the ferry without any problems. You can buy it in the subway or from bus drivers. There is also a sales point at the pier, but you will have to stand in line there.

How to get to Finland and how to get to Helsinki can be read on our website. Now you need to be at the Kauppatori market square, only from there you can get to Sveaborg.ferry. In winter, the ferry departs to Suomenlinna Fortress with a closed upper deck.

If you have already taken a ticket, go to the turnstiles. If you are traveling with a child in a stroller, go to the barrier and they will let you in for free. If you forgot to buy a ticket in advance, go ahead to the wooden kiosks, where the ticket office is located.

Sea bus

From May to September the site can be reached by sea bus. They take tourists to the main attractions of the city. There is, for example, a route by which you can arrive directly at the Royal Gate.

JT-Line is mainly responsible for sea trams. There are 3 summer routes. A single ticket does not work on this transport: you need to buy a separate pass at a kiosk or on board the ship.

From island to island

There is no island that contains all the attractions of Sveaborg. You need to travel between at least 3 islands: the mine island of Lonna, Iso Mustasaari and Vallisaari island.

From Iso-Mustasaari you can cross a bridge or a spit to the islands of Kustaanmiekka, Pikku-Mustasaari, Länsi-Mustasaari and Susisaari. The rest are served by water buses. If you wish, you can use the Island Hopping pass - with it you will be able to move freely on the water within the facility. Inside these “trams” there is a dining area with its own kitchen.

You can also visit the fortress as part of a sightseeing tour of Helsinki.

Have you ever noticed that in any city on Earth, most of the interesting places are always in close proximity to each other. You simply walk through the historical center and “string” the sights one by one, like multi-colored beads on a needle and thread... Here is the Cathedral, here is Senate Square... And here is the Old Market, and behind it you can see the Assumption Cathedral... One after another... One by one…

Everything seems smooth and even... Aha!!! Whatever the case!.. Just like the beads of beads that tend to roll behind the sofa, among the attractions of the so-called city of X there will certainly be one or two such points for which you will have to trudge to the other end of the earth. Places like Rebel Squad in the world of attractions. Whatever you take, in almost every city in the world you are sure to find something similar. Personally, at least, I have seen such pictures many times already. Want an example? Yes, at least ten!.. This is, and, and the Lennusadam Museum in Tallinn, and... I can continue this list for a long time. But in fact, now within the framework of this particular article this is not of fundamental importance. After all, today I would like to tell you about just one of these places, the most “hard-to-reach” attraction of Helsinki - the old fortress of Suomenlinna (aka Sveaborg).

Despite the fact that this place is often considered one of the Helsinki “must see” places, getting to it is not so easy. The islands of Susisaaret, on which the fortress stands, are cut off from the city by the waters of the Gulf of Finland. Therefore, when you get here, it immediately seems that you are no longer quite in Helsinki. The water surface spreads out all around... Huge smooth boulders come close to the shore... And above all this, like a local “gopota”, a detachment of white seagulls circles...

It’s quiet around – and it seems that in just 10 minutes you’ve exchanged noisy Helsinki for some nice and cozy suburb.

However, okay... I'm getting a little crazy... I need to tone down the vanilla. Let me tell you everything in order...

A little history (albeit just a little)…

The decision to build fortresses on the islands of Susisaaret (“Wolf Skerries”) was made after the Russian-Swedish war in the mid-18th century. At that time, the territory of modern Finland was part of the Swedish Empire, and therefore the fortress itself was called Sveaborg (which means “Swedish fortress”). After Finland gained independence, the bastions here were used during the civil war of 1918. A camp for Finnish Red Guards was established on the islands, and the fortress itself officially received the name Suomenlinna (literally “Finnish Fortress”). Why am I writing this? The thing is that today the Finnish and Swedish languages have official status in Finland, so the fortress is alternately called either Sveaborg or Suomenlinna. Thus, today this island bastion is called both Finnish and Swedish.

In 1991, the fortress complex, along with other island buildings, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today there are numerous museums, a naval academy, the remains of old artillery, private houses with nine hundred permanent residents, and even a “light security” prison, whose prisoners maintain the fortress in proper condition. The Finns themselves (as it seemed to me) usually use this place as a picnic area: while tourists were running around the island with cameras, they simply sat peacefully on the rocks and, eating the supplies they brought with them, looked at the rocks and the surface of the water.

To tell the truth, it is for the sake of picnics and the picturesque nature of this place that it is worth coming here from Helsinki. Everything else - fortresses, cannons and other structures - made a much less impression on me. The exception is these grassy fortifications that look like Bilbo Baggins' houses.

They're cool. And everything else is walls and walls... I could write nothing more about them at all. But the duty of a blogger dictates... Therefore, next there will be a big story about all the interesting places that can be found on this island. Let me first give you a mini-tour here. And we’ll leave the technical issues (such as “how to get to Sveaborg” and where to rent accommodation) for last...

Sveaborg Fortress: churches, cannons and “Russian” houses...

In general, it is believed that there are many “attractions” in this place: on the tourist maps that can be obtained at the information center, as many as 45 different points are marked!!! But most of them can be classified as attractions only formally. Mainly these are various museums, ramparts and public catering facilities. Another thing is that they are all located quite compactly and, as if on a thread, are strung along the “blue route”, which stretches across two islands at once.

It starts from the main pier, and then passes through the “Russian village”, where merchants from Russia once lived...

Past the garrison church...

Military Museum...

Numerous souvenir shops…

"Messiah... Save your breath"...

And low bridges connecting the banks with each other.

To prevent tourists from getting confused, there are special signs here and there on the islands showing the way to the main points of Sveaborg. Seeing certain interesting points on the signs, Tanya and I constantly changed the route and went to the sides, now to the right, now to the left. This is exactly how (unplanned) we, for example, got to submarine Vesikko(I called her “Suliko”).

I can’t say that it makes any special impression (like, for example, the Lembit submarine in the Tallinn Maritime Museum). But it’s definitely worth stopping by for a couple of minutes. After all, it’s not every day you see submarines on the streets.

If anyone is particularly interested in the topic of boats, I will also note that there is also a “dry port” on the territory of the Suomenlinna Islands. Really dry... (like an uncertified Rollton). It is located to the right of Great Fortress Yard with Ehrensvärd's grave(this is another boat, by the way).

This yard looks very nice... There are spreading trees everywhere, rough stones overgrown with green ivy, as well as the same old Swedish cannons, of which there are as many here as seagulls flying overhead... More photos to follow. I think they will tell everything better than me.

Returning to the topic of the dry dock, I note that in June 2017, when I personally was on the island, this place looked rather pitiful.

In the middle of a huge basin stood one single ship, and around it lay the remains of some logs and pipes. However, see for yourself. In pictures from tourist brochures this place looked much more presentable.

We stopped in there for a couple of minutes, took some photos, and headed back to the blue route. Flowers in pots were blooming all around...

Lilacs swayed overhead...

And the ubiquitous Chinese tried to hand-feed the seagulls right from the bridge.

Damn... When I see such pictures, Zadornov wakes up in me with his eternal: “Well, stupid...”. I stood behind them and prayed that the next seagull would peck out the eye of one of these citizens of the Celestial Empire. Well, or at least tore off the earring... And I’m almost serious now. In Finland you can only feed seagulls poison!!! Anyone who has been to Helsinki will understand me. These are not birds - but the air mafia. They steal food, fly right over your head... I once even read a story on the Internet that a seagull on a pier in Helsinki snatched a camera from some tourist. On the piers of the city there are special signs “Do not feed the seagulls”. But these are the Chinese... They say that one day they will take over the world. Damn... The only hope is for the Japanese (that they will still invent their robots and deal with China in the near future). I wouldn’t want to eat just rice for days when I’m old...

Seascapes and the King's Gate

Probably, reading this text, you are now all asking the question: “Where is the very fortress that is constantly being discussed here?” I answer: the whole point is that the Sveaborg fortress is not a single bastion, but rather a certain collection of walls and cannons located on those very islands in the Gulf of Finland.

The walls of the fortress overgrown with grass are found everywhere here. Just don’t expect to see any single architectural complex on the islands like the Moscow Kremlin or something similar. The Sveaborg fortress is walls, walls, walls, cannons, walls... plus this Royal Gate, which is one of the unspoken symbols of this place.

As I said at the very beginning, it’s worth going here for the sea views...

Hobbit huts and other fairy-tale buildings that look like stone giants peeking out from under the ground...

Or, for example, in order to have a picnic on the rocky shores of the island...

For example, we did just that. We took a blanket, food and two jars of cranberry gin, climbed further away and began to relax. Somewhere near the shore a couple of white swans were swarming...

Ahead, among the waves and strokes of the stingy sun, the sails of some small ship flashed...

At that moment, I was no longer even annoyed by the ubiquitous seagulls (although one of them whistled a cherry from me and in a matter of seconds swallowed it along with the pit).

Probably, during the entire three-day trip to Helsinki, this was our best day in Finland. A sort of culmination of the journey. It is available on any trip. But now I won’t push this topic too much... I’ll just write that it’s definitely worth a trip to the islands of the Suomenlinna fortress. Especially in clear weather. Later in this article, as promised, I will write to you about how to do this.

Suomenlinna (Sveaborg): how to get there from Helsinki

Special ships included in the city transport system go to the islands every day from 6 am to 2-20 am. They depart from this station near the Helsinki Market Square. Usually, during the daytime there are a lot of people around her. So you won't miss it.

You can buy a travel ticket at the ticket office or from a machine (5 euros). It is valid for 12 hours (so with one ticket you can travel both there and back).

You can also go on a trip with a regular 24-hour city pass (HSL) or a Helsinki card. The ferries themselves operate regularly. The traffic interval is from 20 minutes to 1 hour (but you should focus on a smaller number - there are long gaps between flights here only at night). Travel time is 15 minutes. The ships themselves have both open and closed areas. For the first time we rode on the “roof” of the ferry...

But they were already returning back, settling down on the inner platform.

Along the way, the ferry passes several small islands. In clear weather, sailing in an open area is very pleasant. The only thing that spoils the impression a little is the seagulls flying directly overhead. As you understand, in this story they are the main antagonists.

Once you arrive on the island, the tourist information center will be right in front of you. On the other side there is a grocery store and a board with flight schedules. If for some reason this option does not suit you and instead of 5 euros you really want to pay all seven for travel, you can also sail to the islands on the “water buses” of the JT-Line company. Detailed information about routes and schedules can be found on their official website www.jt-line.fi.

Where to rent accommodation on the islands

Next to the fortress, right on the islands, there is the Suomenlinna hostel, opened in a former school building. The hostel has rooms for two or three or 6-10 people. Therefore, if you wish, there is something to choose from. In summer, a double room in this place will cost you 68 euros (which is quite a low amount for Helsinki). A bed in the dormitory will cost 25. During the off-season the prices are lower. Check them out

X I would like to tell you about Sveaborg - a Swedish fortress located on several islands.
It was once the key to Helsinki and to all of Finland... and Finland itself was a Swedish province. It was the Swedes who built the fortress and invested a lot of money in it, hoping for its inaccessibility. This is a place with an ambiguous fate. A fortress that never lived up to the hopes placed on it. Tourists can only reach the fortress by ferry. It is located on the islands and has more than 6 km of fortress walls and fortifications.

The strength is both colorful and powerful. This is immediately obvious.

The wall is monstrously thick in places...

Its construction began in 1748. Instead of the planned 4 years, it lasted 40 and was never completed in the form in which its creator, Augustin Erensvard, intended. Under the Swedes, the fortress was called Sveaborg - i.e. Swedish fortress. The Finns called it Viapori, and when the Russians left and Finland gained complete independence - Suomenlinna, which means Finnish fortress...)))))

The construction was led by Augustin Ehrensvärd, an architect, shipbuilder, naval and artillery officer. There were only two passions in his life - Sveaborg and the women of the fleet. The man was fanatically devoted to his work.

If there were not enough funds for construction, he could give away his salary and even cut off his silver insignia. Augustine was here a planner, architect, manager, hirer and house manager; and in addition, every year he convinced Stockholm not to cut off funding for the largest construction project in the country (the first eighteen years of construction cost the crown 90 barrels of gold).

For his ardor and hard work, Count Ehrensvärd received the rank of marshal. He died in 1774 and was buried in the fortress, never seeing his brainchild completed...

Above is the photo of his grave...

The catacombs here are capital, but more about them later.

Alas, I didn’t have a good camera with me)))

Everything was here. And food supplies for long sieges and a dry dock for ship repairs and barracks protected from bombing.

The gates of the fortress are tricky, double. If one is open, the other is sure to close and vice versa. This makes it impossible for the enemy to make a surprise attack and large throughput, even if the enemy opens them himself.

There is a ditch under the bridges...

Despite all the most modern construction at that time, on May 4, 1808, Russian troops besieged the fortress and it was taken. Surprisingly, this happened after a short siege, despite the obvious superiority of the Swedes in artillery (1000 guns against the Russians 40)!!! Out of 8 thousand garrison, ONLY 5 people died.

HOW THE RUSSIAN SMART WORKED WHEN CAPTURE OF THE FORTRESS

It is not known for certain why exactly the fortress surrendered, but there is a version that during the winter siege, the wives of the Swedish officers, yearning for their husbands, gained impudence and asked the Russians to go to their husbands for leave... the Russians let them through and even gave them transport and security. The wives went to the fortress all winter, and ours constantly told them that resistance was useless, that the Russian squadron would come in the spring and many in the fortress would die from the assault and shelling... why unnecessary casualties?
Ours suggested that the Swedes persuade their husbands to surrender. In return, they promised freedom of movement, and their husbands continued service in the fortress, but to the Russian emperor, with a possible increase in salary...

In the spring, the commandant of the fortress invited the Russian military commander and informed him that if the Russian squadron approached the fortress faster than the Swedish one, he would surrender the fortress.

,
If you believe Google, this is the Russian squadron, and I believe Google even more than Weller)))

So, in the spring the Russian squadron arrived, but the Swedes were late... and the fortress surrendered without a single shot. So Swedish women deprived Sweden of its province, but kept their husbands. Huge funds spent on the construction of the fortress were wasted...

Many from the fortress garrison remained to live in Helsinki, some returned to Sweden.
The commandant of the fortress, Admiral Kronstedt, was put on trial on charges of treason, and his relatives in Sweden were forced to change their surnames...

The Swedish tribunal sentenced the commandant to death, but the Russian emperor overturned this decision and they did not disobey him and released Kronstedt... such was the respect for the Russian emperor)))))

In 1809, Finland became part of the Russian Empire (Treaty of Friedrichsham).

ANOTHER CASE WHEN SWITCH HELPED THE RUSSIANS

On August 6, 1855, an Anglo-French squadron appeared under the walls of the fortress. The Crimean War was going on and the allies who fought against the Russian Empire decided, in modern terms, to separate the enemy group. On August 9, the shelling began. The outdated fortress guns could not cause any significant harm to the allied fleet. There simply were no long-range guns. The shelling continued for three days. There were heavy losses among the garrison and destruction in the fortress.

There is a legend of the happy salvation of the fortress. During the siege, the Russians took inventory of gunpowder and weapons and found old long-range Swedish cannons in a warehouse. They rolled three of them onto the wall, loaded them with lethal force, and fired in the evening towards the enemy squadron. With these shots they sank one ship and seriously damaged another. The British and French decided that reinforcements had come to the Russians and long-range artillery had appeared. A further siege became dangerous. At night, the British and French raised anchors and went to sea - the siege was lifted.

After the Crimean War, the fortress was reconstructed, new fortifications and artillery positions were built, and more modern guns were installed.

There is a church on the territory of the fortress. Ours built it, and its fence with Swedish guns is very reminiscent of the fence at the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg... the church is unique, at night it plays the role of a lighthouse.

Russian barracks... they were built by our soldiers after the capture of the fortress.

1906 - uprising of the Sveaborg garrison. The reason was the arrest of the mine company in full force by the commandant of the fortress. In July, in the part of the Baltic squadron stationed in Reval, strong fermentation began. In order to prevent sailors from landing on the islands of the Sveaborg fortress, the commandant gave the order to lay mines at the entrance to the Sveaborg roadstead. For disobeying the order, the miners were surrounded by infantry, disarmed and placed under arrest. The artillerymen (3 companies) decided to free their comrades.

The ensuing bloody battle between the artillerymen and two companies of the 1st Sveaborg Fortress Battalion marked the beginning of this famous uprising. The uprising was suppressed by the forces of the Sveaborg fortress regiment and ships of the Baltic Fleet.

The fortress also has an extensive system of underground passages. The stone walls are amazingly preserved today. Only it’s terribly dark there and there are puddles... and quite deep... fortunately at least it’s not mined)))) I tried to wander there and came out with wet feet))) but I did film several passages))) You can walk along them ... and even get lost))))

It's not very pleasant to walk there)))

In World War I, Sveaborg was part of the flank-skerry position of the Peter the Great Fortress and was used as a mine fleet base.

The Sveaborg fortress and nearby islands became part of the “sea fortress named after Peter the Great”, which was supposed to protect St. Petersburg.

During the Finnish Civil War (summer 1918), there was a concentration camp here for Finnish Red Guards, many of whom died of hunger and disease. Since that time, the fortress has been called Suomenlina (Finnish Fortress) and serves as a naval base for the Finnish state.

During the Winter War, the fortress was bombed several times by Soviet aircraft, however, without much success...

Nowadays Sveaborg is a cultural and museum center, many artists live permanently on the islands, there is a summer theater, the Nordic Institute of Contemporary Art, and many museums, and very interesting ones.

The fortress houses the oldest dry dock in Europe - ships have been built at this shipyard since the mid-17th century (up to 24 ships at a time). The uniqueness of Sveaborg is that the giant fort was intended for both the fleet and infantry. The bastions and fortifications could accommodate 1,300 cannons, and the harbor was able to accommodate large ships.

In Sveaborg, Vissarion Belinsky was born in the family of a naval doctor in 1811.

In the south, Susisaari smoothly turns into the island of Kustaanmiekka (Kustaanmiekka, that is, the Royal Sword). At the junction of the two islands, in a former gunpowder warehouse, there is an exhibition of coastal artillery. It comes with an interesting exhibit - the only Finnish submarine Vesikko. The Finnish government bought it from Germany in the late 1930s. During World War II, Vesikko first torpedoed a Soviet merchant ship, but then the blockade of Leningrad happened, the Soviet fleet was cut off from the sea and the submarine was left without work. After the end of the war, the Allies banned Finland from having submarines, and all the submarines in the flotilla were sold off, except Vesikko, which was given to a war museum and transported in parts to Sveaborg.

During perestroika, the lonely submarine got a girlfriend - the former son-in-law of the president, Mauno Koivisto, bought a decommissioned K-77 submarine in Liepaja without a nuclear reactor, installed it in Hietalahti harbor and opened a restaurant on board. Four years later, the lease expired, and the touring performer went to Florida, where they unsuccessfully tried to sell her at an eBay auction, until K-77 was noticed by a film company that was launching the blockbuster “K-19” with Harrison Ford. The girlfriend became a movie star, but Vesikko remained bored on Sveaborg... (c)

Suomenlinna Fortress or Sveaborg- these are 4 islands off the coast of the city of Helsinki, previously also called Suomenlinna, this is a bright symbol of the city of Helsinki. Built by the French and intended to become the “Gibraltar of the North.” Now Suomenlinna is a functioning open-air museum.

History of origin.

Under the Swedes, the fortress was called Sveaborg - i.e. Swedish fortress. The Finns called it Viapori. The history of Suomenlinna Fortress is closely connected with the history of Finland, Helsinki and the Baltic Sea. Suomenlinna Fortress appeared on the map of Finland in the nineteenth century. An important defensive line from the east, the fortress passed to Russia in the early 19th century and, in addition to naval bases in Tallinn and Kronstadt, it was used to guard the fairways leading to St. Petersburg.

Architecture.

Suomenlinna Fortress is a complex of chaotically located bastions built on small rocky islands. From the very beginning, defensive structures and fortress buildings were also used for utilitarian needs. Suomenlinna is largely authentic, that is, a historically original structure. Dozens of underwater historical sites have been discovered near the Suomenlinna fortress.

Neighborhood.

In the immediate vicinity is the Suomenlinna Fortress Museum (Suomenlinna-museo). The museum contains unique examples of pre-revolutionary artillery of Imperial Russia - for example, a 6-inch siege gun of the 1904 model and other guns. In the collection of the Toy Museum you will find thousands of objects and things for children, the oldest of which were made at the very beginning of the nineteenth century. In addition, the museum has a separate room with military toys. The Ehrensvärd Museum displays miniature ship models, antique furniture, weapons and paintings by Sveaborg artist Elias Martin. Here you can also visit the Military Museum in Manege, which is located in a building that was previously used by the Russian army as an artillery depot. Nowadays, Finnish military equipment is exhibited there.
You can also see the Vesikko submarine, which was used during World War II. Almost all rooms inside the boat are open to the public.

Note to tourists.

Suomenlinna Museum is open all year round, from May to October it is open from 10:00 to 18:00, at other times it opens half an hour later and closes at 16:30.
The Ehrensvärd Museum is open throughout the summer season from 11:00 to 18:00, and in spring and autumn only on weekends, from 11:00 to 16:00.
The Toy Museum is open to visitors only from March to October, from 11:00 to 17:00.
The Military Museum is open from mid-May to September, from 11:00 to 18:00, entrance tickets for adults cost 4 euros, for children under 17 years old - 2 euros.
Entrance to the submarine is also open from mid-May to September, from 11:00 to 18:00, the entrance ticket for adults is 4 euros, for children under 17 years old - 2 euros.
Hostel Suomenlinna is located on the territory of the fortress on the island of Iso Mustasaari.
You can grab a bite to eat at Café Vanille, where you will be offered excellent desserts, or at Café Piper, where in the summer you can dine in the garden, which is decorated in an English style. The Toy Museum Café will be interesting - you can drink tea and desserts inside a real toy museum. And for true gourmets, the Walhalla restaurant is open in Sveaborg, which will offer you a large selection of dishes and a rich wine list.