Helsinki Cathedral

Built between the years 1830 and 1852, the Helsinki Cathedral was designed by the famous architect, Carl Ludvig Engel. Get used to his name when enjoying a Finland vacation, as Engel is responsible for the design of many of Finland’s premier buildings, squares, and overall city layouts.

Finland Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral at night

Another shot of Helsinki. The prominent white building is the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral, known as "Helsinki Cathedral" and is a major tourist attraction, although it is still used regularly for religious services.

Though born in Germany, Engel mostly made his mark in Finland, and the Helsinki Cathedral is one of his best works. It is one of the top attractions in Helsinki, and thousands of people visit it annually, whether to attend mass or to simply admire its form. Among the highlights of the Helsinki Cathedral are the zinc statues of the Apostles that top the aforementioned green domes. They are the largest set of zinc sculptures in the world.

This is a shot of the Cathedral. Built in 1852, it was originally a tribute to the Tsar of Russia, Nicholas I, and was called St. Nicholas's Church until Finland gained independence in 1917.

Helsinki Cathedral overview

Rivaling the Helsinki Cathedral in terms of scale and design is the Uspenski Cathedral, which is another one of the most visited cathedrals in Helsinki. The Uspenski Cathedral was built between 1862 and 1868, and it was designed by a Russian architect by the name of Alexey Gornostaev.

Unfortunately for Gornostaev, he did not live to see his design come to fruition. You can see it, however, and chances are good that you will be rather impressed. Unlike the Helsinki Cathedral, the Uspenski Cathedral is not found in the heart of town. Instead, it overlooks the city from its hillside perch on the Katajanokka peninsula. When admiring the Uspesnki Cathedral, it is interesting to note the predominantly Russian look of the building, which gives testament to the era in Finnish history when Russia ruled the land.

While the Helsinki Cathedral and the Uspenski Cathedral are the most oft-mentioned cathedrals in Helsinki, there is another one in the city that might just be the most unique. St. Henry’s Cathedral, which was finished in 1860, was built for Catholic foreigners. Most Finns are Lutheran, so it is a bit odd that a cathedral would be built almost exclusively for foreigners of a different faith. To this day, St. Henry’s Cathedral is the main Catholic church in Finland’s capital city, and when visiting it, the statues that you will see depict St. Henry, St. Peter, and St. Paul.

The cathedrals in Helsinki aren’t the only ones near the southern Finland coast that are worth visiting. To the west, the understandably popular city of Turku boasts what amounts to one of the more impressive cathedrals in Finland. The Turku Cathedral is not only the National Shrine of Finland, but also the mother church of Finland’s branch of the Lutheran Church, making this the most important cathedral in Finland.

Both the altar and the pulpit were designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, and inside you’ll also find some dazzling murals that were painted by R.W. Ekman. The Turku Cathedral, which is a major landmark near the center of the city, was damaged in the 1827 Fire of Turku, which destroyed much of the city. Thankfully, it was lovingly restored.

Olavinlinna Castle

One of Tott’s letters from 1477 includes a passing mention of foreign builders invited to Olofsborg, probably from Reval, where the city fortifications were being extended. It was the first Swedish castle provided with a set of thickset circular towers that could withstand cannon fire.

Olavinlinna - Savonlinna, Southern Savonia. Impressive medieval castle from 15th century, the northernmost medieval castle of the world still in use. Located on small granite island.

It is not by accident that a network of lakes and waterways forms the setting for the castle, for these would seriously impede a prospective Russian offensive.

Mini Europe - Olavinlinna castle

Hrad Olavinlinna/Olavinlinna castle in Savonlinna

Olavinlinna castle, Savonlinna, Eastern Finland

With 900 permanent inhabitants, Suomenlinna remains a lively island with an impressive array of museums, galleries, restaurants and cafes to keep you occupied!

the island of Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland.

The island fortress of Suomenlinna

The island fortress of Suomenlinna

Kuninkaan Street in Old Rauma

Old Rauma in winter

In 1991 Old Rauma was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which includes cultural and natural sites of outstanding universal value. Old Rauma was inscribed as an outstanding example of living and well preserved historical Nordic wooden town.

Old part of Rauma

Old Rauma Finland

Kauppa Street in Old Rauma