Posted on 08 November 2007
- Loviisa. Located 54 miles east of Helsinki, this town belies the strong Russian influences along flavors of the eastern branch. There’s a historic residential district, the notable island fortress of Svartholm, and a pair of land fortresses (Ungern and Rosen) that offer insight into how the Swedes and Russians guarded the King’s Road from raids.
- Hamina. Even more Russian is this town located just 30 miles from the Russian border. Its most distinctive features are its old walls, an aesthetically designed octagonal town center, and dozens of 18th and 19th century wooden buildings. Underscoring the town’s strong Russian flavoring is the small but ornate Russian Orthodox Church.
- Lappeenranta. Located north of Hamina on Lake Saimaa, this historic town resides in Finland’s Lake District vacation region. It sports a spa, a 19th century fortified village, and the South Karelian Museum. The town is also a popular embarkation point for day-cruises along the Saimaa Canal to the Russian town of Vyborg. (No visa needed for day-trippers.)
Share and Enjoy:
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Leave a Reply
