Click here, if you want to go to the end of this page!
YOU ARE VERY WELCOME TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE HISTORY OF LAPPEENRANTA!
As far back as in the 12th century the Lappeenranta region has been a popular resting place
and an important thoroughfare for many kinds of travellers, for example the Karelians
travelled on beautiful Lake Saimaa already at that time. The many waterways of Lake Saimaa met by
the cape of Lapvesi which we know today as the Fortress.
Lake Saimaa is the biggest lake in Finland and the fourth largest Lake in Europe.
Take The Saimaa Tour!
Take a look at the Saimaa
Seal!
Lappeenranta -
the present Watergate to the east
It was natural that a lively medieval market place soon sprang up on the cape.
During peace time people used to gather on the market place every September for buying
and selling with other tradesmen who came from hundreds of miles away. Thus, this market
place of Lapvesi has been known since the Middle Ages. The name Lapvesi originates from
the time when the entire Saimaa area was inhabited by Laplanders.
The peasants brought their products to the marketplace to sell them to the townsmen. Then the goods were transported to Vyborg and St. Petersburg by the townsmen. Because the roads were not in good condition then, the heaviest goods were transported with sleighs in winter. The goods which were sold were wood, tar, butter, game and woven fabrics. People also often needed to buy tobacco and iron.
The Lappeenranta area, being situated on the eastern border of Finland, has also suffered many heavy war-times and border incidents since the 12th century. Both the rulers of Russia and Sweden wanted to take it under their ownership. It has been very hard for the people to be forced to pay war taxes and arrange accommodation and catering for their troops.
I was satisfied with the country
and the country was satisfied with me.
But actually the Finns have good reason to thank Count Brahe that we now have the town of Lappeenranta. He has also achieved many general improvements in the living conditions: He founded nine towns in Finland and in addition to this The Post Office was established, roads were repaired and a university was founded in Turku.
INDUSTRY AND ENTERPRISE
On St. Olof´s day the people do not work
but dress in their best clothes,
eat and drink beer.
(Peter Brahe in the year 1659)
On the seal of Lappeenranta depictsa wild looking man with a big club in his hand.
The design for the seal was decided by the parliament in Stockholm. It can be said that
it reveals a lot about the impression which the Swedes had of the inhabitants in
Lappeenranta. Swedish officials soon started to call the town Lappeenranta
Willmanstrand, wild man´s shore. In those days such name-calling was very common.
In 1721 Lappeenranta became a border town against Russia and the Swedes began to build
the fortification of the town. This happened after the period called the Great Hate.
The work of the fortification was left undone because of the political reasons and
power struggle between two Swedish parties, the Hats and the Caps.
Subsequently Lappeenranta became a battlefield of Lesser Hate. The fortress fell quickly - in some hours - in the Battle of Lappeenranta in the autumn of 1741. The town was totally destroyed. The area of Lappeenranta fell under Russian rule in the Peace of Turku in 1743, being now a border town against Sweden-Finland. The other parts of Finland were integrated into Russia nearly a hundred years later.
Gustavus III, the king of Sweden-Finland, tried once more to conquer back the lost areas,
but failed in his efforts.
The following year, acting upon the order of Empress Catherine II, Marshal Aleksander
Suvorov started the construction of the fortifications continuing the work the Swedes had
already begun. In turn, Lappeenranta was located on the new western border of Russian empire.
It was not until the year 1811 that "old Finland" and the rest of Finland were united again. From this event began a 130-year-period when also people in Lappeenranta were allowed to live in peace without border incidents and battles. This peace time broke in 1939.
The Wolkoff´s home museum and the history of the Wolkoff Family is worth familiarizing...
A gate to the east - the border line with Russia...
Some thoughts about Lappeenranta as a neighbour of Russia in 1997
At the moment the fortress is a unique part of Lappeenranta which is also full of life.
Many old buildings, most of them dating back to the Russian era, have been restored so that
they are now used as museums (Cavalry Museum, South Carelian art museum and
South Carelian
museum),
cafés and restaurant (
Café Majurska, Restaurant in the House of Sailor´s Clubs),
private residences and handicraft workshops (Ceramist´s shop, Christina workshops),
schools (School of pictorial art and Ballet school) etc.
The oldest Orthodox church in Finland, which has been built in 1785, is also situated in
the Fortress.
People celebrate May Day yearly on the banks of the Fortress (pictures above).
A very convenient and easy way to familiarize yourself with the fortress of Lappeenranta:
Guided walks in the fortress every Sunday (1.6.-27.7.) from 13 to 15.
To receive any information you need about reservations, accommodation, sightseeing tours, guides,
cruises etc. contact Tourist Information arranged by Tourist Service of Lappeenranta.
You will be served by Tourist Information
Office which is located at the bus station, tel. 05-667 788.
E-mail: Matkailuoy@Lappeenranta.fi
Above you can see some recent summer events on the shore of Saimaa....
Click here, if you want to go to the
beginning of this page!
THE FORTRESS OF LAPPEENRANTA TODAY
Take a look at Lappeenranta... (pictures and
information in Finnish)
Lappeenranta for boat enthusiasts...
(also in English) and
Locks of Saimaa Canal
(pictures and information in Finnish)
Homepages of the Aurora-project