THE FORTRESS TRAIL
The Fortress Trail is a four-kilometer walking route that starts at the Flag Tower and runs along the ramparts of Hamina Fortress, ending in the Town Hall Square in the centre of the fortress. You can walk the trail in either direction, and depart from the trail along the route. There are seven information boards along the Fortress Trail with QR codes which offer further information on the history of the fortress.
Visit the ditches that surround the Fortress, the gates that used to protect Hamina with drawbridges, and the impressive gunbanks, tunnels and vaults – follow the trail and experience the past of the Hamina Fortress!
GET TO KNOW THE ENCHANTING STAR-SHAPED FORTRESS
Sit down for a while and look about. Imagine, what it was like when Per Brahe established a town by the name of Weckelax Nystad in this place in 1653. Then climb up to the fortifications that surround Hamina. The ramparts did not yet exist at the beginning of the 18th century, when the town was completely obliterated during the Great Northern War.
Walk along the ramparts, which were first built by the Swedes in the 1720s. The Swedes also renamed the town that rose from the ashes: Fredrikshamn, or Hamina in Finnish. In the 1740s, the Russians continued building the fortress. Historically, Hamina has been located alternately on both sides of the border between Sweden and Russia.
Next, head to the old centre, to the Town Hall Square. Explore the circular streets Isoympyräkatu and Pikkuympyräkatu, and walk along the eight radial streets. Get to know the atmospheric wooden houses. Great town fires plagued this area in the 19th century. Visit the churches and museums a stone’s throw from each other. Isoympyräkatu street breaks off in places, but if you go around the entire Pikkuympyräkatu street, you will have walked a full circle of one kilometre!
Find the other gems of Hamina within the fortress. Become fascinated by the Hamina Bastion, which serves as the venue for magnificent events under the summertime tent canopy and within the 58 vaults. Admire the stately Reserve Officer School, where military training in Hamina began at the Imperial Cadet School of Finland in the 19th century. Explore up to 15 historical sites on Hamina Museum Street and experience part of Hamina’s history easily along one street!
Walk around the star-shaped fortress town and encounter experiences unlike anywhere else!
1. TOWN HALL 1798
(Johan Brockman)
The Neoclassical-style Town Hall has housed a bank, various shops, a police station and the Main Guard Post of the fortress. Now the upper floors of the building once again host various functions of Hamina Town, while a café serves its customers in the rooms of the former police station.
2. TOWN MUSEUM 1760
In the summer of 1783, the Russian Empress Catherine II and her cousin, King Gustavus III of Sweden met in Hamina. The meeting took place in the oldest surviving residential building of Hamina, which now houses the Town Museum. The museum has been located in this building since 1957. The permanent exhibition of the museum presents the history of the Hamina region from prehistory to modern times, and introduces both famous and less well-known townspeople.
3. ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL 1837
The Neoclassical church was probably designed by the Italian-French architect Lous Visconti. The NeoByzantine belfry was built in 1863.
4. FLAG TOWER 1790
The round Flag Tower at what used to be the point of Bastion Helsinki was originally built for the commander of the fortress. The bastion and the surrounding ramparts were dismantled in 1889 during the town’s expansion. Surrounding the tower you can see the exhibition of Nordic and Baltic flags, which is part of the Hamina Flag World. Behind the tower there is a statue (1968) dedicated to Finnish baseball, the national game of Finland.
5. TANELINKULMA HOUSE (ALADIN’S PALACE) 1889 (Waldemar Aspelin)
The Neo-Renaissance palatial residence was originally the home of the influential Aladin family of Hamina. The house is currently in private ownership. The building hosts apartments, offices and a cafe.
6. CHURCH OF ST JOHN 1843
(Carl Ludvig Engel)
The Neoclassical Lutheran church architecture is reminiscent of Greek temple design. Earlier, this was the site of the fortress commander’s official residence, where the Russian peace negotiators signed the Treaty of Hamina in 1809.
7. CENTRAL BASTION (HAMINA BASTIONI)
1803-1811
A bastion is part of a fortress structure built in an angular shape and positioned at the six protruding corners of the fort. A bastion was built as a fortification to offer protection, and typically provided cannon defense. The Central Bastion, however, was originally designed as explosion-proof storage facilities. The brick vaults house 58 casemates then used for munitions. Now the spectacular Bastion provides a unique venue for events.
8. HUGO SIMBERG’S BIRTHPLACE 1829
The Finnish symbolist painter Hugo Simberg (1873-1917) spent his early childhood in this house. The Hamina
a pharmacy, among other things. It is in private ownership today.
18. GUNPOWDER MAGAZINE 1785
The former gunpowder magazine in the Bastion Hämeenlinna was used as a communications centre during the World War II. Now it serves as an art gallery and meeting facility. A Japanese-style cherry tree park adorns the yard of the magazine. Nearby is the Hamina Summer Theatre stage.
CentralBastion
Lutheran congregation currently uses the premises.
9.15TH CENTURY ST MARY’S CHURCH AND CHURCH MUSEUM
The Medieval stone church dedicated to Virgin Mary is the oldest building in South-Eastern Finland. The Neoclassical facade by C.L. Engel dates from the repair carried out in the 1820s. The museum room exhibits ecclesiastical life from the 18th century onwards.
10. RESERVE OFFICER SCHOOL
a. Main building 1898 (Jacob Ahrenberg)
b. Manege 1832 (Carl Ludvig Engel)
c. Former Cadet School laboratory (E.B. Lohrmann) d. Orthodox memorial chapel e. Monument to Fallen Officers
The main building was originally used by the Imperial Cadet School of Finland that operated in Hamina 1821-1903. Since 1920, the building has been used by the Reserve Officer School. The former riding menage is now an assembly hall. The small brick building in the park is a well from the 1860s. The Path of the Flag of Finland displays all the national flags ever used in Finland. The Orthodox memorial chapel was built in 1837 to commemo-
rate the Church of St Peter and St Paul, which used to be located in the field of the Reserve Officer School.
11. RESERVE OFFICER SCHOOL MUSEUM a. Statue of Varvara
The Reserve Officer School Museum pays homage to the legacy of the Reserve Officer school from 1920 onward. The statue of Varvara Schantin (1870-1941) is located near the museum. Schantin, who was of Russian descent, lived in Hamina. She used to sell baked goods in the town and to the officer students during
their field exercises. The statue was donated to the town of Hamina in 1972.
12. GARRISON CLUB 1863 (E.B. Lohrmann)
The former official residence of the head of the Imperial Cadet School represents Russian red brick architecture. Since 1918, the building has been an officers’ club. Now the building houses a restaurant and conference facilities and party venues.
13. SHOPKEEPER’S MUSEUM 1841
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Kasarminkatu was a busy shopping street. The Shopkeeper’s Museum with
19. THE MAYOR’S HOUSE (EK’S HOUSE) 1866
The physician of the Imperial Cadet School of Finland had the house built for himself in 1866. It represents the late Empire style. The building has been called the Mayor’s house since the 1950s, when the town mayor took up residence there. Currently, the house is privately owned.
20. TEMPERANCE HOUSE 1902
The premises of the local temperance society, which was founded in 1884. Now the building houses a cinema, theatre and cafe.
21. PARK HOUSE 1884 AND SUMMER PARK (Karl August Wrede)
The building in the Summer Park has served as a hotel and used to house the Swedish Social Club. Now it is occupied by the local Music Institute. The Summer Park was founded within the Bastion Lappeenranta in the 1850s. A memorial to those killed in coastal battles during the 1939-1944 wars can be found in the park. The Millstone statue is located beside the Summer Park pond.
22. STATION BUILDING 1899 Railway traffic to Hamina ended in 1968. The building now serves as a bus station.
23. HIETAKYLÄ CEMETERY 1773
The earliest headstones date from 1809, the year the year the Finnish War, fought between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Russian Empire, ended (1808–1809).
24. VALLI SCHOOL 1888
(Waldemar Aspelin)
Originally a Swedish school for girls and women, it was later a co-educational school. Since 1939, it was an elementary school. Most recently the school building has served as a daycare centre.
25. GARRISON BUILDINGS
The oldest barracks date from the 1770s. The 19th-century brick building was originally built for food storage. They are located on Isoympyräkatu street.
26. GUARDHOUSES OF THE FORTRESS
a. Guardhouse of the Lappeenranta Gate 1774
b. Guardhouse of the Vyborg Gate 1774
c. Guardhouse of the Sea Gate 1776
the old store, courtyard residences and outbuildings presents Finnish-Russian merchant traditions of the early 20th century.
14. ARTILLERY COMMANDER’S HOUSE 1798
The Neoclassical facade of the houseoriginally the residence of the artillery commander of the garrison - dates from the repairs at the turn of the 19th and 20th century.
15. FEDERLEY’S HOUSE 1890s (Waldemar Aspelin)
The Neo-Renaissance building has previously housed a pharmacy and it has
been named for the pharmacist Jarl Federley.
16. HOTEL SEURAHUONE 1890 (Kiseleff & Heikel)
Seurahuone was constructed by A. W. Meyer and was designed by Architect Office Kiseleff & Heikel. The hotel opened in 1890. There was also a famous seamen’s tavern, Kompassi, in the hotel.
17. ARVILOMMI’S HOUSE (CAJANDER’S HOUSE) 1849
The Neo-Rococo-style facade of the plastered wooden house is rare in Finland. The building used to serve as
Access to fortified Hamina was possible through three gates equipped with booms and drawbridges. There was a guardhouse at each gate. The Medieval highway between Turku and Vyborg, also known as the King’s Road, passed through the centre of Hamina via the streets now known as Kadettikoulunkatu and Mannerheiminintie. The buildings are currently privately owned or used by the Reserve Officer School.
27. MUSEUM OF THE OLD VETERAN Heritage Center for Peacekeeping and War Veterans. The building has a museum, changing exhibitions, meeting and accommodation facilities and a restaurant on request.
Summer Park