Tag Archive for: history

Discover this historical treasure of Åland – Kastelholm Castle

The Åland archipelago is part of Finland, stretching between the cities of Turku (FIN) and Stockholm(SWE) in the Baltic Sea. Its largest island, which also houses the region’s capital, Mariehamn, boasts short distances, but there’s quite a lot to explore. One of Åland’s most famous attractions is the Kastelholm Castle. Kastelholm on a map I […]

Break free from daily routines at Mustio – enjoy the cultural milieu of the 230-year-old historic castle and Korpudden’s cliff views

In paid collaboration with Visit Raseborg Article & photos by Johanna Suomela @maisemaonnellinen A short drive from Helsinki, Raseborg is an oasis for the history-fanatic cultural tourist. Travelling to the easternmost village of Raseborg, Mustio, is like teleporting yourself to another reality. Gustav I established Finland’s first ironworks in Mustio in 1561. Today, in this […]

Time travel to a divided Europe: The Salpa Line Bike Route introduces Finnish military history and beautiful Nordic nature

In cooperation with Cursor Article by Mari Valtonen The Salpa Line bike route is located in southeastern Finland, in the province of Kymenlaakso, near the Russian border and close to the Finnish section of the Europe-wide EuroVelo13 or Iron Curtain Trail. The Iron Curtain Trail (9950 km in total) introduces European history from a time […]

An impressive cycling route in Raseborg: Presenting the 46-kilometre long Front Line Route

In commercial cooperation with Visit Raseborg Article by Mika Puskala The 46-kilometre long Front Line Route in Raseborg is an interesting, beautiful and also thought-provoking cycling route which starts from and ends in Ekenäs. The adventure awaits only a train ride away for example from Helsinki. History of the war is still present in many […]

A journey into the past: Digitrail leads you to the best parts of Aulanko

The story of Hämeenlinna’s Aulanko started at the end of the 1800s, when the outstandingly rich colonel and weapons manufacturer Hugo Standertskjöld wanted to return to his home region, acquired a summer villa and then tried to make an impression on a Polish countess with his estate. An English-style country park was created in the […]

Who cares about Halloween? We have Kekri! 5 facts about the Finnish harvest celebration when even ghosts go to sauna

Kekri is an old Finnish agricultural harvest festival celebrated in autumn, and it’s also the time for the souls and spirits of the dead to visit us who are still living here on Earth. This is the time when even ghosts go to sauna!  Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve has spred all around the world […]

The Salpa Line trail

The Salpa Line is the largest construction project in Finland’s history. It was created as a deterrent, so that the enemy wouldn’t dare attack. The Finns suspected that the Soviet Union, not satisfied with the territorial gains they had made during the Winter War (1939–1940), would plan another invasion. Built at the beginning of the […]

Walk in Kokkola’s legendary old town, Neristan

It’s Christmas time and I have returned to my old home town for family gathering. It’s the 23rd of December and the temperature is just below zero. Rauma’s old town is known for it’s status as Unesco World heritage site. But Kokkola’s old town, Neristan, is just as stunning, an old wooden neighborhood with lots […]

An evening stroll in Porvoo’s national urban park

Usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Porvoo is the old town with is it’s pretty wooden and stone houses. However, a stone’s throw away from the narrow cobblestone streets, you can take a relaxing evening walk surrounded by nature. Looking at the city’s outdoor map, I noticed that I […]

Suvanto, a historical village in Lapland that did not burn

It is more than 70 years since the World War II ended. Finland suffered great losses but managed to get on her feets again. During the war the German soldiers fought against the Russians in Lapland. But things changed as it started to seem like Finland would loose the war. The Germans had to withdraw […]