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Suomenlinna Fortress, known as the 'Castle of Finland,' is an extensive historic fortification situated on a cluster of small islands off the coast of Helsinki. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination in Finland.
Overview of Suomenlinna Fortress
Covering a total area of 210 hectares, the fortress includes 200 buildings and 6 kilometers of defensive walls. Suomenlinna Fortress stretches across 6 separate islands off the coast of Helsinki. In military architectural history, this fortress stands as a prime example of 17th and 18th-century fortification principles.
The History of Suomenlinna Fortress
After two wars in the early 18th century, the Swedish Empire lost all its provinces and towns along the eastern border. To prevent losing the entire territory of Finland, the parliament decided to build a central fortress to protect the eastern parts of the empire. The fortress was initially constructed from stone with the purpose of defending the Kingdom of Sweden against the Russian Empire. It served as a strong military base, fully fortified and operational.
Construction began under the leadership of Augustin Ehrensvärd in 1748, and a few years later, the fortress was named 'Sveaborg' – the Castle of Sweden – a name later changed by Finnish soldiers to 'Viapori.' Built by the military over 40 years, the fortress has a total of 8 kilometers of solid defensive walls and was the largest fortress of the Swedish Empire.
Finland became part of Russia in 1808, and for the next 110 years, the Russians constructed large barracks and a hospital but deemed it unnecessary to reinforce the fortress. Consequently, during the Crimean War in 1855, a British-French fleet bombarded the fortress continuously, causing severe damage.
The role of the fortress in history and today
On May 12, 1918, a year after Finland gained independence, the Finnish flag was ceremoniously raised at the fortress. The fortress was renamed 'Suomenlinna' and served as a Finnish military base for over 50 years. Its military role diminished after World War II, and in 1973, the area was repurposed for civilian use. Since then, the buildings have been renovated to provide both private and public services, as well as to serve cultural purposes.
According to Mytour.vn
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Source: Travel Guide Mytour.vn
Mytour.vnMarch 18, 2024
