Häme Castle August 2007

Häme Castle, locally known as Hämmenlinna, is one of Finland’s medieval royal castles. It is believed to have been built at the end of the 13th century, following the crusade by Swedish Earl Birger to Häme region. During the Middle Ages the original fortified camp was built into a residential castle for its commandant. In the 18th century a third storey was built and curtain wall buildings partly replaced the original outer walls. The castle and its surroundings were in prison use from 1837 to 1972. The main castle is now presented as a historical monument.

Jim, Ellen, Jessica & Brian. As this was just a day trip,

Foster stayed home to guard the apartment.

Häme Castle exterior courtyard.

"Have fun storming the castle!"

Häme Castle interior courtyard.

Guided tours of the medival part of the castle are available in several languages,

including English. Our guide explained that you can see the original

arched ceiling outlinded in the bricks of the wall.

Narrow, steep stairwells connect the castle's maze of rooms.

The Renaissance floor features a dining hall with high arched ceilings.

A giant fireplace!

The Great Hall now houses a restaurant. Many special events are held

on the castle grounds, including weddings.

Häme Castle model.

A demonstration of old cannons was being held on the castle grounds.

A modern military display.

The Häme Castle and its redbrick barracks are on the shore of Lake Vanajavesi.

Helsinki August 2007

Helsinki was founded by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden in 1550 on the mouth of the Vantaa River. In the mid-1600s the centre was moved to its current location on the southern peninsula, where the deeper waters allowed Helsinki to compete better for Baltic Sea trade. In 1917 Helsinki became capital of the independent Republic of Finland.

Located on the harbor, the Market Square is Helsinki's most international and famous market. The booths here sell traditional market foods and treats, as well as handicrafts and souvenirs. There is also a heated café tent where you can comfortably sip steaming hot coffee even on the coldest days in winter.

Brian bargaining at the market. He purchased a lovely handmade

wooden puzzle featuring Finnish forest animals.

Chanterelle mushrooms!

There were many craft booths; this woman is knitting hats.

The original drawings for the Presidential Palace were made by Pehr Granstedt at the beginning of the 1800s. The building was finished in 1820, after which C.L. Engel adapted it for use by the Russian Tsar. Since Finland's independence the building has served as the official residence of the President, although today it is used primarily for presidential functions.

The train station features an art deco design and the entrance is

guarded by the massive statues below.

Some of Helsinki's many churches...

Completed in 1868 in the Katajanokka district of Helsinki, the Uspenski Cathedral is the largest orthodox church in Western Europe. With its golden cupolas and redbrick facade, the church is one of the clearest symbols of the Russian impact on Finnish history.

The Lutheran Cathedral designed by C.L. Engel in splendid Neoclassical style. The work began according to his designs in 1830, and was completed after Engel's death in 1852. In addition to serving its own congregation, it is the scene of major state and university events, while exhibitions and concerts are held in the crypt. [Jim & Ellen in foreground]

Quarried out of the natural bedrock, Temppeliaukio Church was designed by architects Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and opened in 1969. The interior walls are created naturally by the rock and the ceiling features concentric circles of copper. Due to its excellent acoustics the church is a popular venue for concerts.

Sibelius Monument

In the Sibelius park is the world famous composer Jean Sibelius' (1865-1957) monument by Eila Hiltunen. The monument resembles organ pipes, made of more than 600 welded steel pipes (closeup below). Sibelius wrote their national anthem "Finlandia".



Suomenlinna Fortress

Suomenlinna is a major monument of military architecture. The construction of the sea fortress on the islands just off Helsinki in the middle of the 18th century was the most extensive building project during Swedish rule. When it was complete, its military shipyard was one of the biggest dry docks in the world and centres of know-how at that time. At the end of Swedish rule the fortress was being compared with the maritime fortifications at Gibraltar.The 250-year-old fortress, which has been preserved intact because of its military use, is today part of the world heritage. In 1991 it was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.Suomenlinna is one of Finland’s most popular tourist attractions. At the same time it is a suburb of Helsinki, with 850 people living in the renovated ramparts and barracks.

Exploring the island's extensive paths and fortifications.

Brian prepares to launch himself through a cannon.

In Helsinki, we stayed at a dog-friendly hostel. Each room had two twin beds, a kitchenette and private bathroom.

Seurasaari Island August 2007

Seurasaari Island is located in the Gulf of Finland, near Helsinki. On our way home from Helsinki, we spent half a day exploring the island with Jim & Ellen. It features an open-air museum with buildings representing various aspects of living in Finland from the 18th century to the present day. It also has lots of walking trails and is dog-friendly! I do not know the names of the plants for certain, so I will simply let all the pictures speak for themselves.