Traveling to Lose the Misery

Suomenlinna is a fortress island just outside the port of Helsinki and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The locals call it the Gibraltar of the North. The entire fort is now administered by the Finnish military administration. Here is including the Naval Academy.
The fortress island has a varied history. It was built by the Swedes to keep the Russian Tsar, who wanted to build its fleet to dominate the Baltic Sea from the Finnish coast. Tsar Peter I has indeed over a longer period may Helsinki siege, but he could not conquer Soumenlinna. Towards the end of the Russo-Swedish war surrendered to the commander of the island, however. Finland now anyway because the Russian Empire was awarded to the Russians took over the expansion of Suomenlinna. In World War I Russia took the fortress islands in agreement with the former Finnish government for control of the Baltic.
Suomenlinna is to be reached by regular ferry service. For the inhabitants of Helsinki, this fortress island is a popular recreation destination. Suomenlinna is officially a district of Helsinki and has about 900 inhabitants. It is one of the most important monuments of Finland and is located on the island fortress is also the oldest, still operating shipyard dry dock in Europe.

In the Finnish town of Savonlinna is the best preserved medieval castle in Scandinavia. Olavinlinna located on a small rocky island and is accessible only from Savonlinna via a bridge. The fast-flowing waters of the River Kyrönsalmi freezes in winter can be. Olavinlinna was in the 15th Century as Finland was part of Sweden, and had the task of protecting the waterways.
After the Russo-Swedish war in the early 19th Century Finland was first interrupted by the Russian Empire and later by itself. Thus, the castle lost its importance .. It was used for several years as a prison. After an impressive restoration place since 1967, the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. The castle is open to the public year after year and is visited by many tourists. In the castle and in the immediate vicinity there are four museums and three kilometers away is the National Park Savolinnen Saarten.
One of the attractions at Castle Olavinlinna is the icon show. Also interesting is the different construction of the castle. Looking at the walls, we see that there different types of rocks were used. The Swedes, who had started building the castle, similar bright stones. Later, when the Russians found their way, the walls with dark and reddish stones were completed. In order to get a good idea of Olavinlinna and beautiful environment, a ship traveling through the lake and a subsequent tours of the castle, which is held in German.

The Linnansaari National Park was established in 1956 in the Finnish province of Savo. It is mainly the preserve of the Finnish lake district and its diverse flora and fauna. Located right in the Haukivesi Lake, which is part of Lake Saimaa, shows the Linnansaari National Park visitors the typical Finnish lakes. There are protected Insellabyrinte and wide expanses of water. Saimaa ringed seals are at home and with some luck you can watch the Finnish Osprey. The National Park consists of a group of more than 150 islands, the main island is Linnansaari.
Water sports enthusiasts get their money’s worth here. With a canoe you can paddle for several days by the Linnansaari National Park and observe animals and plants up close. To protect the breeding grounds of many species of birds, one must in some parts of the National Parks 1 May to 15 June, did not leave the canoe.
In summer you can go on in Kirchdorf Rantasalmi Raudanvese Lake Linnansaari the nature center with the beautiful name Oskari. Also in Savonlinna Nestori and there are natural homes, in which one can provide a lot of information about the Linnansaari National Park.
Who is longer in the summer time in Linnansaari National Park residents should be sufficient in any case, mosquito repellent there. Doing so could the days and nights are a torment.

If you are looking for something special in Finland is in Ruka just right. Near the Arctic Circle of Finland shows his true side. Those who have visited in Ruka, no matter whether in summer or winter, will always go there. The vastness of the far north is evident in every season of their best. Pure nature, let your soul and enjoy the natural wonders that Finland has to offer the North, is an experience of a very extraordinary kind, the incredible beauty of the fells in Ruka takes visitors hooked.
Ruka-Kuusamo in winter provides a paradise for lovers of Nordic ski sport. For Central Europeans tend to get used to here but the Finnish way of après ski. During the day there are often groups of snow-shoe dancers to see, because dancing is in Finland, almost like a national sport. In the evening there is dancing in almost every restaurant in Ruka-Kuusamo, often into the early morning hours. In the spring, when there is light again at the Arctic Circle and the days are getting longer, spreading bright white snow surfaces from the eye of the beholder. The ski season lasts from October to May
In summer, the Finns celebrate many festivals in Ruka. The hospitality is legendary and in the never-setting sun, the northern landscape is at its best.

Seurasaari is a beautiful island – a few kilometers from the city center of Helsinki. The entire island is a recreational park, use the the residents of the Finnish capital you. In 1909 this open air museum was founded Seurasaari. Buildings from all over Finland were removed carefully and Seurasaari rebuilt. Today’s 87 buildings show a complete cross section through the typical architectural style of the different parts of the country. This is where the checkered past of Finland in an impressive manner. Tourist guides in the old folk costumes show visitors how people lived and worked previously in Finland. In particular, the old-fashioned craftsmanship is still practiced here. Particularly impressive by the exceptional outbuildings to present the farm in southwest Finland, and Antti Niemelä Kate from Central Finland. If you’d like an insight into the Finnish history and life in earlier years should plan a visit to Seurasaari in any case. The museum cafe is open only in summer and offers the luxuries of the physical well-being also Finnish handicrafts, souvenirs, travel guides and maps. A special attraction at Seurasaari is the midsummer turn. Numerous tourists from around the world celebrate with the locals – on the island or one of the many ships that have rings around the island throughout the night a varied entertainment program.

Cathedral of Helsinki
Those who enter the Senate Square in Helsinki, whose gaze falls first on the former as an Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Nicholas Cathedral was built in Helsinki. It was only in 1959 with the founding of the Diocese of Helsinki, the Nikolai church was renamed. The most famous landmark of the city sits as a cross-domed church on a platform over the adjacent, also in the classical style building. An architectural style by the way, is found in Scandinavia rather rare. The builder and architect Carl Ludwig Engel planned and realized this monumental church in the years 1820 to 1850, knowing that this church would be visible from all sides. The interior of the Cathedral of Helsinki is simply white-washed. Thus, the pulpit and the golden altar, the visitor immediately catch the eye. The altar painting is a gift from the Russian Tsar Nikolai I, is the first organ of the cathedral by a German. The current organ was built in Denmark and since 1967. Otherwise, the entire interior of the cathedral is rather plain. Only the figures of famous reformers like Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon are attached as a decorative accessory. In the crypt often hosts exhibitions and concerts. With the increasing importance of tourism here in Helsinki we have installed the crypt-café, which is only open during the summer months. The Cathedral of Helsinki is definitely one of the main tourist magnets to each city to visit.