Finland attracts the untouched beauty of its nature, because in this country they treat it very carefully, fabulous Lapland, fishing and the opportunity to take a steam bath in a real sauna. For residents of Russia, and especially its western part, a trip to this country will not be tiring at all, because you can get there by car, plane, train or ferry. The capital of Finland, Helsinki, is an indispensable component of any trip around the country. The city was founded in the mid-sixteenth century, but for a long time was in the shadow of the then capital of the state - Turku. Only in 1812 did Helsinki become the capital (at first the princedom as a part of the Russian Empire, and later an independent state).
What is the attractive capital of Finland
Despite the rather unfriendly climate, a large number of travelers from all over Europe come to Helsinki every year. The city is one of the leaders in terms of quality of life, is a cultural and scientific center of the country. By Russian standards, the city is not very large, because its population is about 600 thousand people. Speaking about the number of local residents, sometimes a large figure is voiced - 1.3 million, but this figure includes people living in satellite towns located next to the capital. A third of the Helsinki area is occupied by parks.
Spending a weekend in Finland, and not having much time, in Helsinki is worth a look:
- Senate Square with a monument to Alexander II, the emperor, who granted autonomy to the principality;
- the City Council building, on the wall of which there are clocks that are the oldest in Finland;
- Assumption Cathedral;
- Kauppatori - one of the busiest squares in the city, with a granite obelisk with a double-headed eagle located on it , which was built on the occasion of the visit of Emperor Nicholas I and Empress Alexandra Fedorovna;
- the central station of the city, which is one of the most famous monuments of Finnish architecture;
- the church, carved into the rock and covered with a dome, is a place whose acoustics were highly appreciated by Mstislav Rostropovich;
- observation deck tower of the Olympic stadium.
Distances in the city are small. Traditionally, as in many cities, a significant part of the monuments of architecture and museums are located in the historical center.
By ferry you can get to the sea fortress of Suomenlinna, which is located a few kilometers from Helsinki. Built by the Swedes in the 18th century, it was a strategic element of protection against threats from the east, and is still considered one of the largest in the world.
The capital of Finland is interesting not only for its history and sights, but also for its holidays, carnivals and festivals, held several times a year and timed to various holidays. Below is a short list of such events that will be very interesting to visit if the trip to Helsinki falls on these dates:
- May 1 - carnival on the occasion of the holiday;
- June 12 - City Day ;
- June (dates change every year) - Samba festival;
- August 17 (dates may vary) - marathon;
- The first week of October is the Herring Festival.
The capital of Finland will also please fans of shopping, as there are several largest department stores in the city, and grandiose sales are held in April and October of each year. In the city center there are several of the largest multi-brand stores at once, including Stockmann, Sokos and Forum. On the outskirts, "Sochiascus" operates, in whose territory there are hundreds of different shops.
Of course, a trip to Finland is not only a visit to Helsinki. Be sure to call in Lapland - a fabulous country and the homeland of Santa Claus. Here you can spend both summer and winter vacations, as there are plenty of opportunities for this (fishing, ski resorts, a sauna, fresh air and beautiful lakes).