World Heritage Photos

The Fortress of Suomenlinna is located on a group of islands off the coast nearby Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. In the 18th century, when Finland was ruled by Sweden, Suomenlinna was built as a maritime fortress in the Gulf of Finland. The original plan of Suomenlinna was strongly influenced by the ideas of the French military engineer Vauban. The construction of the Fortress of Suomenlinna started in 1748. The King's Gate was built in the period 1753-1754 as the ceremonial gateway into the fortress. The dry dock of Suomenlinna was at the time of its completion the biggest in the world. The historic dry dock is still in use. Suomenlinna was a sea fortress, a garrison town and a base for archipelago navy. In the 19th century, the Fortress of Suomenlinna fell under Russian rule. The guns facing towards the west are a reminder of this period. Kustaanmiekka Isle offers magnificent views over the historic bastion fortress and the defense line of the coast. The Suomenlinna Church was built as a Russian Orthodox garrison church in 1854. In the 1920s, in the early days of the independence of Finland, the church was converted into an Evangelical-Lutheran Church. Nowadays, only the Finnish Naval Academy is situated on Suomenlinna. Suomenlinna is only accessible by water, the ferry trip from Helsinki Kauppatori, the Market Square and Market Hall, to the sea fortress takes about 15 minutes. There are guided tours, but it is also possible to explore the Fortress of Suomenlinna on your own. The Fortress of Suomenlinna gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1991. World Heritage Art: Suomenlinna Ramparts

www.werelderfgoedfotos.nl   © Copyright   World Heritage Photos

➔

➔

1. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: The ramparts of Suomenlinna were constructed in the 18th century. Most of the fortifications are still intact. The King's Gate was built in 1753-1754 as a ceremonial gateway into the Fortress of Suomenlinna. The dry dock of Suomenlinna was at the time of its completion the biggest in the world. The Fortress of Suomenlinna was built on six islands. The Kustaanmiekka Isle offers views of the defense line of the coast.

2. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: The harbour of Suomenlinna. The Fortress of Suomenlinna is located on a group of islands off the coast nearby Helsinki in Finland. The construction of Suomenlinna started in 1748. The fortress is a good example of the European military architecture in the 18th century. Suomenlinna is a historic maritime fortress, a garrison town and a base for archipelago navy. The fortress is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Finland.

3. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: The guns facing west are a reminder of the period under Russian rule between 1808 and 1918. The fortress fell into decline in the 19th century. During the Crimean War, a combined Anglo-French fleet bombarded the Fortress of Suomenlinna, it was severely damaged. In the late 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century, Suomenlinna was restored, but the fortress lost its importance, it became just one of the many Russian fortresses.

4. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: The Suomenlinna Church was built as a Russian Orthodox Church in 1854. The original building had five onion shaped domes. In the 1920s, during the early days of the independence of Finland, it was converted into an Evangelical-Lutheran Church. Also in the 1920s, the union shaped domes were removed and a lighthouse was built on the church tower. The Fortress of Suomenlinna gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1991.

5. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: The submarine Vesikko was ordered by Germany, it was designed in the Netherlands and built in Finland in 1933. In this manner, Germany tried to escape the peace terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the peace settlement after World War One. In the treaty, Germany was not allowed to have submarines, tanks, or an army and an air force. Later, Finland bought the submarine.

6. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: The submarine Vesikko was used in the Second World War. Together with four other Finnish submarines, Vesikko operated in the Gulf of Finland in the period 1939-1944. The submarine was code named CV-707. Today, Vesikko is one of the main attractions in Suomenlinna. After extensive restoration works, Vesikko was opened to public as a submarine museum in 1973.

7. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: During their visit, visitors can experience the cramped, uncomfortable interior of the submarine Vessiko. About twenty crew members worked and slept here dozens of metres beneath the surface of the sea. Finland bought the submarine from Germany in 1936, it was named Vesikko, the fifth and last submarine of the Finish Navy. Vesikko was the prototype for the German Type II U-boats.

8. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: During World War Two, Finland was one of Germany's most important allies. After World War Two, by the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947, Finland was not allowed to have submarines. In 1953, all of them were sold for scrap to Belgium, except Vesikko. The submarine was transported in parts to Suomenlinna and reconstructed. The Fortress of Suomenlinna was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1991.

9. 

   Fortress of Suomenlinna: The original design of the bastion fortress was strongly influenced by the ideas of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, a French military engineer. The sea fortress was built on different islands in the Gulf of Finland. There are guided tours, but it is also possible to explore the Fortress of Suomenlinna on your own. The Fortress of Suomenlinna was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991.

10. 

    The Helsinki to Suomenlinna ferry in the harbour of Helsinki in front of the Helsinki Kauppatori, the Market Square and Market Hall. The ferry trip from the Helsinki Kauppatori to the Fortress of Suomenlinna takes about 15 minutes. The fortress is accessible all year round. For tourists, Suomenlinna is only accessible by water, but there is a tunnel connection between the fortress and Helsinki for emergency vehicles.