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| Finland |
| Finland is a strange mix between Scandinavian and Russian ethnicities, plus their own indigenous people. It will be a great place to get my feet wet for exploring Eastern Europe.
I will spend 4 days in Helsinki, 1 day in Turku, 2 days on the �land Islands, 1 day in Tampere, 1 day in Mikkeli, 1 day in Lappeenranta, and 2 days in Rovaniemi. With an extra day for travel from Helsinki to Estonia and I buffer I will spend 15 days in Finland. |
| Helsinki
Helsinki was founded by Swedish King Gustav Vasa in 1550 to be a competitor in trade with Tallinn. However, when the Swedish seized northwest Estonia the crown lost interest in building up the town. Due to this Helsinki languished for centuries as a forgotten village. In 1721 the town was fortified by the Swedes after the Great Northern War. During the 18th century it was twice held under Russian rule. To prevent further attacks a sea fortress was built. In 1809 sovereignty was passed to Russia, they made Helsinki the capital. The Russians tried to rebuild the city and modeled it after St. Petersburg. In the 19th century Helsinki became the economic and cultural center of Finland. In 1917 Finland gained independence from the Russians. Things to Do: Parliament- It is possible to tour the building. Temppeliaukio Church- This church is built into the side of a rock. Kansallimuseo- This is the national museum. Ateneum- This museum features Finnish and international art from the 18th to 19th centuries. Uspensky Cathedral- This orthodox cathedral has 13 gilded cupolas. Mannenhein Museum- This is the cities most intriguing museum. Suomenlinna- These are the ruins of a fortress. There is a nearby museum about the fort and its many battles. Helsinki City Museum- This museum has the history of Helsinki presented from varying view points. Day Trip Porvoo- This is a lovely medieval town. Turku Artifacts have been found in the area dating back to the Stone Age have been found here. Turku is Finland�s oldest city and the former capital. It became a significant town in the late 13th century. In 1229 a Dominican monastery was founded here. This made Turku Finland�s most important area during the medieval period. It was the only city in the country to trade with the Hanseatic League. In 1640 the university was founded. Then in 1809 it lost its status as capital to Helsinki. In 1827 a fire almost completely destroyed the city. During the 20th century Turku became Finland�s gateway to the west. Things to Do: Turku Castle- This massive castle is worth a look. W�in� Aaltonen Museum- This museum has exhibits by important Finnish artists. Turku Cathedral- This 13th century cathedral has an onsite museum. Archipelago Cruise- This might be a fun way to spend a few hours. �land Islands These islands have been autonomous since 1921. They are politically neutral and demilitarized. In 1809 they were ceded to Russia from Sweden. Then in 1832 the Russians began fortifications of the islands. During the Crimean war the islands suffered severe destruction at the hands of the British and the French. In 1917 the islands asked to be ceded to Sweden, instead they were given autonomy while Finland retained sovereignty. Today it seems like a Swedish piece of Finland. Things to Do: Stay in Mariehamn �land Museum- This is about the islands. �land Art Museum- This has art from the area. Day Trip Sund- Come here to check out the ruins of a Russian fortress. It was destroyed during the Crimean War. Tampere Tampere was founded as a market town in 1775 by Gustav III of Sweden. In 1779 it was granted full township status, however it remained small. In the 19th century it grew into an industrial center. It is often called the Manchester of the North. Today it is still a center of industry. Things to Do: Lenin Museum- This museum is packed with relics from the Russian revolutionary leader. Cathedral- This cathedral features frescos designed by Hugo Simberg. Vakoilumuseo- This is the museum of espionage. Check out the devices the 007 might use. Mikkeli In 1323 Mikkeli fell under Swedish control, this is also the first mention of a settlement in the area. In 1838 it received town rights. During WWII it was heavily bombed as it was the Finnish headquarters Things to Do: P��majamuseo- This was the command center. It is only open during the summer. Jalkav�kimuseo- This is the largest military museum in Finland. Lappeenranta This town is only 30 km from the Russian border. Things to Do: Lappeenranta- This is the best place to enjoy lake Saimaa. Fortress Complex- This fortress towers above the town and is home to several museums. Rovaniemi There is evidence of settlements in this area since the Stone Age. The Sami are the indigenous people. The area is rich in resources. During WWII 90% of the town was destroyed by German troops. Since then it has been rebuilt. Arktikum- This museum focuses on the Arctic, from flora and fauna to the people who live there. Arctic Circle Marker- Gotta get the picture! Santa Clause Village- Who knew that he lived in Finland? Be sure to find some reindeer. Day Trip Inari Saamelaismuseo- This outdoor museum covers all aspects of traditional Sami life. |
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