Sights and attractions

Hamina Bastion Orthodox Church of the The Central Bastion, which is part of the Holy Apostles St Peter and St fortress of Hamina, was built by the Rus- Paul sians in the early 19th century according Raatihuoneentori 2 to the plans of the Dutch-born General The main church of the Orthodox parish, Peter van Suchtelen. built in 1837, is dedicated to the memory The Hamina Bastion was formed in 1998 of the apostles St Peter and St Paul. after extensive renovation work: the bas- Open: June-August Tue-Sun at 12-16 tion vaults, in other words 58 casemates, were equipped with modern technology St Mary’s Church and and the bastion field was covered by the Church Museum largest summer canopy in Europe. Pikkuympyräkatu 36 Renowned as the venue of events such as The medieval stone church dedicated to the Hamina Tattoo, the Hamina Bastion Virgin Mary was probably built at the pre- can provide even large-scale events with sent location before 1396. The church has a splendid setting and memorable experi- been destroyed and repaired on several HAMINA IS A CLEAN-CUT FORTRESS TOWN ences. occasions. The church was renovated to You cannot get lost in the circular its present appearance after the fire of – THE TOWN AND THE FORTRESS MAKE Town Museum Hamina in 1821 in accordance with draw- UP AN INSEPARABLE WHOLE Kadettikoulunkatu 2 b ings by C.L. Engel. At that point, a belfry streets of the old centre of Hamina. The museum is located in a building com- was added to the church. pleted in ca. 1760. This building known The most recent renovation of the church The attractions are close to each Per Brahe founded a town by the name of Weckelax Nystad as “Catherine’s Palace” served the ne- was completed in 2013. The purpose in the area of the former Vehkalahti in 1653. At that time, gotiations between Catherine the Great, of the renovation carried out under the other, and the Town Hall located in the town was awarded the rights to be engaged in foreign Empress of Russia, and King Gustav III of supervision of the architect Ulla Rahola Sweden, during three days in 1783. The was to restore the spirit of the 19th cen- the centre of the circle is an excel- trade. When the town was destroyed in the Great North- Town Museum moved to the building in tury. The belfry is decorated by a relief ern War, it was rebuilt in the 1720s and was given a circular 1957. The museum houses a permanent by Sulo Mäkelä, a local artist, from 1964. town plan and the name Fredrikshamn after Frederick I, the exhibition displaying the colourful history Ecclesiastical items from the 18th century lent landmark, since you can see it of Hamina, plus temporary exhibitions. onwards are on display in the museum King of Sweden. The name soon gained the form Hamina in The upstairs room is a cosy venue for vari- room in the southern wing of the church. from every street corner. Finnish. Sweden started to fortify its eastern border against ous workshops and events, and it is rented Open: 5 June - 13 August 2017 at 11-15. Russia, whereby Hamina became a fortress town. as a meeting room also for outsiders. There is a guide in the church Open: June-August Tue-Sun at 10-16 during the opening hours. January-May Wed at 16–20, The fortress of Hamina was built under the Swedish General Thu-Sun at 12-16 St John’s Church Axel von Löwen in the 1720s. The fortress and the town plan Raatihuoneentori 10 Shopkeeper’s House Museum St John’s Church, designed by Carl Ludvig were based on an Italian star-shaped Renaissance fortress Kasarminkatu 6 Engel, originally served the Swedish- from the 16th century. The Swedes built the fortification just The Shopkeeper’s House Museum, speaking population in Hamina. The church as sand bulwarks. The Russians continued the fortification completed in 1841, is a log building with named after John the Baptist was inaugu- cultural history value. The courtyard of the rated on Midsummer Day in 1843. work in the 1740s, when the era of so-called Old Finland house comprises outbuildings, the last of The altarpiece which depicts the resurrec- began in Hamina under Russian rule. which were built in the 1870s. The house tion of Christ was painted by B.A. Goden- and the adjacent buildings used to serve as hjelm. The oldest item in the church is a the residence and work rooms for craft- Bible from 1703. The traditional miniature The star-shaped bastion fortress encloses the old circular speople in various fields, and most recently church boat above the font originates from town centre, with the eight radial streets starting from the for the Muravjev merchant family, which Koivisto in Karelia. Town Hall Square. The radial streets have two circular cross kept a shop in the building. The church yard contains a soldiers’ grave- The house was opened as a museum in the yard with memorials of soldiers who died in streets, Isoympyräkatu and Pikkuympyräkatu, which follow late 1970s. The museum with the old shop the Winter War and Continuation War and the shape of the fortress. Pikkuympyräkatu is a full circle of presents the Finnish-Russian merchant those who were left in Karelia during the about 1 kilometre. traditions of the early 1900s, and the wars, plus a memorial stone commemorat- HAMINA INFO courtyard dwellings and outbuildings ing the Treaty of Hamina of 1809. reflect the everyday life of craftspeople. Open: 5 June - 13 August 2017 at 10-15. Tourist information/SpaHotel Hamina The circular town, which is rare on a global scale, with its Some of the courtyard buildings are open There is a guide in the church Sibeliuskatu 32, tel. +358 40 199 1330 WALKING ramparts and extraordinary town plan is well preserved de- to the public. In addition to the permanent during the opening hours. Open Mon–Sat at 8–20 exhibition, the museum arranges Easter spite many large-scale fires which raged in the 19th century. and Christmas exhibitions plus various Hietakylä Cemetery The military traditions of Hamina have lived on, first in the Summer info, Flag Tower events. Laivasillankatu 6 IN OLD HAMINA Imperial Cadet School of Finland in the 19th century and Open: June-August Tue-Sun at 10-16 The Hietakylä Cemetery was established Kaivokatu 6, tel. +358 40 577 4472 At other times open during in 1773 outside the fortress walls beside Open: later in the Reserve Officer School in the 20th century. the exhibitions and for groups the sea. The cemetery rich in atmosphere May Mon–Fri at 12–15 Fortress and by appointment. contains many valuable headstones which June–August Mon–Fri at 9–17, Sat–Sun at 10–15 The event arena Hamina Bastion was built in the Central reflect the cultural history of Hamina and Bastion of the fortress in 1998. In the summer, the Bastion Reserve Officers’ School its surroundings. The Hietakylä Lutheran #kohtaamistenhamina #hamina circular streets Museum cemetery was expanded in 1859, and it facebook.com/kohtaamistenhamina is covered by the largest dismountable canopy in Europe. Kadettikoulunkatu 8 was also surrounded by a stone wall then. Hamina Bastion now provides events of various sizes with a The museum presents the traditions of the Wealthier town dwellers have been buried instagram.com/kohtaamistenhamina Reserve Officers’ School and its students there since the fire of Hamina in 1821. A worthy venue. since the 1920s. cremation urn cemetery was established Open: June-August Tue-Sun at 10-16 in conjunction with the cemetery in WWW.HAMINA.FI In the winter by appointment. 1997-1998 according to the plans of the architect Bey Heng. Statues and monuments 1. TOWN HALL 1798 Nuolilinnake (Johan Brockman) Kirkkojärvi A. Statue of Varvara Winter War and Continuation War and The Renaissance-style Town Hall (Veikko Haukkavaara) to those left in Karelia. (the tower is of Neoclassical style Varvara Schantin (1870–1941) was a from the 1840s) has served many street vendor of bakery products. She E. monument to Soldiers Fallen in purposes, including local administra- sold her products to officer candidates coastal Battles tion. The building has also housed a Bastioni even when they were in the middle (Veli Klami) bank, shops, the police department, Häm eenlinna of their field exercises. To show their To commemorate the soldiers killed in and the main guard of the fortress. appreciation, the officers who had the 1939–1944 wars. The middle floor is currently in graduated from the courses 1–43 gave 18. festive use and serves as a meeting the town this statue in 1972. F. orthodox Chapel 1837 facility for the town council and Built to commemorate the original town executive board. B. statue for Finnish Baseball wooden Church of St Peter and St Paul, Keskusbastioni (Onni Pursiainen) which was located in the current field 2. TOWN MUSEUM 1760 Donated to Hamina in 1968 by Onni of the Reserve Officers’ School and The oldest town building in Hamina and Otso Paavola to show their ap- demolished in 1830. built for private use. Empress Cath- preciation for everything the town has erine II of Russia and her cousin King rauhankatu 26a. done for Finnish baseball and youth G. Millstone Gustav III of Sweden held negotia- isoympyräkatu 17. R oopertinkatu work. (Eino Marttila) tions in the building in 1783. The new 19. Old millstones found in the Hietakylä permanent exhibition was opened mannerheimintie G 7. C. Monument to Fallen Officers village were used as the models for after the renovation in 2008. (Kalervo Kallio) this one. Erected in 1974. According Inside the pedestal, there is a paper with to a legend, King Gustav III of Sweden 3. THE ORTHODOX CHURCH more than four thousand names of the proposed to Empress Catherine II of of ST PETER AND ST PAUL 20. 8. Finnish officers killed in the 1939–1944 Russia during the 1783 negotiations. 1837 9. wars. Catherine would not, however, say yes The present church is the third Bastioni D 6. until one could, instead of a hand kiss, Orthodox church in Hamina. It was D. Monuments in the Park of give a proper kiss through the hole in probably designed by the Italian- La p p e e n ra n ta E st John’s Church the millstone. French architect L.T. Visconti, and raatihuoneenkatu Including the memorial stone to the it represents the Neoclassical style: Rautatienkatu 1809 Treaty of Hamina, the monu- H. War memorial the church is round on the outside, 5. Keskuspu is to 1. kirkkokatu ment to the 1918 Finnish Civil War, (Sulo Mäkelä) and the inside forms a Greek equal- pikkuympyräkatu VALLIKATU R the soldiers’ graves, the monuments Erected to commemorate the veterans arm cross. The bell tower of the A 21. I A 10 c . to the soldiers killed in the 1939–1944 of the 8th Division. Unveiled in 1960. church representing the Neobyzan- T R 2. I O H T tine style was built in 1862. U N 16. O N E E Group, or the Finnish State Railways, kasarminkatu 10b. 4. FLAG TOWER 1790 Fredrikinkatu 10a. in 1916. The rail traffic ended in 1968. Built at the tip of the Helsinki Bas- Currently serving as a bus station. 24. C Bastioni tion to serve as the flag tower of the 3. fortress commander. The Bastion 22. Savonlinna 23. HIETAKYLÄ CEMETERY 1773 was demolished along with the ram- 23. Founded beside the sea outside the KAIVOKATU maariankatu parts around it in 1889. The 100th pikkuympyräkatu 26b. fortress walls. The earliest surviving anniversary of the Treaty of Hamina Ka u p p a to r i jääkärinkatu headstones date from the end of the was held in the area. To mark the torikatu 15. 12. Finnish War, from 1809. There is occasion, the historic Russian marble Laivasillankatu isoympyräkatu also an area to deposit ashes in the 4. pictures depicting events of the war F cemetery. laurinkatu were placed on the outer walls of SIbeliuskatu 14. the tower. In the summer, the Flag 24. VALLIN KOULU SCHOOL 13. Tower houses an information point B 26c. 1888 kadettikoulunkatu of the Town of Hamina. KAIVOKATU 11. (Waldemar Aspelin) PUISTOKATU A Originally a Swedish school for girls 5. TANELINKULMA HOUSE 1889 25. and women, later a co-educational (Waldemar Aspelin) school, a folk school since 1939. Cur- The Neorenaissance, Swiss-styled rently housing a day-care centre and a wooden town residence of the origi- kindergarten. nally Russian Aladin family, which satamakatu has lived in Hamina since the 19th Bastioni 25. GARRISON BUILDINGS century. The building also houses the H The mansard-roofed barracks in the coffee house and bakery Huovila. Ha m i n a Isoympyräkatu street area and the Privately owned. brick building for the storage of food built opposite the guardhouse of 6. ST JOHN’S CHURCH 1843 Bastioni Meriportti date back to the 1770s. (Carl Ludvig Engel) approx. 100 metres The Neoclassical church of the Tu r k u 26. GUARDHOUSES OF THE Lutheran town parish was built in the FORTRESS form of a Greek temple. The resi- 1917) lived in the house with his family 10. reserve OFFICERS’ SCHOOL 12. GARRISON CLUB 1863 facade embodies the renovation at the 17. arvilommi’S HOUSE 1849 20. TEMPERANCE HOUSE 1902 One could enter the fortified dence of the fortress commander, until he was six years old. The main a. main building 1898 (E.B. Lohrmann) turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Neorococo exterior of the plastered Earlier housed a temperance associa- Hamina through three barriered and earlier located in this site, was the building was originally built of bricks, but (Jacob Ahrenberg) The former residence of the head of the Privately owned. wooden house is unique in the Finnish tion that began its activities in 1884, drawbridged gates with a guard- place where the Russian negotia- a section made of timber was added in The main building of the Imperial Finn- Imperial Finnish Cadet School, represent- town architecture. The building has, for currently housing the cinema Kino house beside each of them. The tors lived and signed the Treaty of 1846 to the northern part of the build- ish Cadet School located in Hamina ing the Russian red brick architecture. 15. federley’S HOUSE instance, housed a pharmacy. Privately Hamina and the theatre Haminan medieval Turku–Vyborg highway, the Hamina. There is a memorial stone ing. The current Neoclassical exterior from 1821 to 1903. Used by the Re- Served as the Officers’ Club since 1918. (Waldemar Aspelin) owned. Teatteri. Kuninkaantie road, went across the beside the church commemorating dates back to the 1920s. The building serve Officers’ School since 1920. Currently housing a restaurant. The Neorenaissance 1890s main build- town from the Lappeenranta gate to this event. currently houses an office of the Parish b. indoor arena 1832 ing has housed, for instance, a pharmacy 18. ruutikellari GALLERY 1785 21. park HOUSE 1884 AND the Vyborg gate. of Hamina for youth work. (Carl Ludvig Engel) 13. sHOPKEEPER’S HOUSE with A. Nymalm and later A.T. Federley The gunpowder magazine of the Hämeen- kesäpuisto PARK a. Guardhouse of the Lappeenranta 7. CENTRAL BASTION (HAMINA A former riding arena, currently serving museum 1841 as the pharmacists. linna Bastion has been renovated to serve (Karl August Wrede) gate 1774 BASTION) 1803–1811 9. THE 15TH CENTURY CHURCH as a festival hall. The Kasarminkatu street area was an as an art gallery and meeting facility. It Earlier served as a hotel and was used Served as the main guard from 1840 The Central Bastion of the fortress of ST MARY AND CHURCH c. a former Cadet School laboratory important shopping area at the turn of the 16 HOTEL SEURAHUONE 1890 was used as a communications centre by a Swedish social club. The building to 1974. The exterior has retained its and its 58 casemates, or brick vaults, MUSEUM 1851 (E. B. Lohrmann) century. This museum with the old shop (Kiseleff & Heikel) during the wars. There is a Japanese-style currently provides premises for the original appearance. Privately owned. were originally designed to serve A medieval stone church dedicated to St The small brick building in the park is a and the shopkeeper’s house tells about One of the oldest hotel-restaurants park adorning the yard. local music institute. The Kesäpuisto b. Guardhouse of the Vyborg gate as bombproof storage facilities. It Mary. The oldest building in the Kymen- 1860s well. these traditions. There is, for instance, a in Finland. The Marski Room upstairs Park was founded within the Lap- 1774 currently provides a venue for large- laakso region. The Neoclassical exterior smithy and craftsmen’s workshops within is decorated with Tove Jansson’s wall 19. mayor’S HOUSE 1866 peenranta Bastion in the 1850s. The exterior has been altered. Cur- scale events with its grandstand and is by C.L. Engel dating back to the 1820s 11. reserve OFFICERS’ the yard. paintings depicting historic Hamina. The One of the most significant bourgeois rently used by the Reserve Officers’ summertime canopy. renovation. Of the many medieval paint- scHOOL MUSEUM basement houses restaurant Hostina homes with its buildings and trees. The 22. STATION BUILDING 1899 School. ings, only the Holy Cross on the eastern The museum has preserved the tradi- 14. artillery COMMANDER’S Kompas, formerly known as Kompassi, a residential buildings and the outbuilding Originally the station building for c. Guardhouse of Meriportti 1776 8. HUGO SIMBERG’S wall has survived. The section serving as tions of the Reserve Officers’ School HOUSE 1798 famous seamen’s tavern until the 1970s. represent the late Empire style. Privately the Inkeroinen–Hamina railway. The guardhouse for the lane leading to BIRTHPLACE 1829 a museum presents church life from the since 1920 and is serving as a link Originally the residence of the fortress owned. After being enlarged, the station was the port. Privately owned. The painter Hugo Simberg (1873– 18th century onwards. between the past and present courses. artillery commander. The Neoclassical transferred to the possession of VR