The Loviisa fortresses represent Swedish fortification technique of the late 18th century. The goal was to build a fortress roughly the size of the one in Hamina that would require 2,000 men to defend it, but that could accommodate up to 8,000 men if needed. The construction of the fortress began in 1748 with the outworks. The six bastions of the fortress were named after the members of the royal family: Adolph Frederick, Louisa Ulrika, Gustav, Charles, Frederick Adolph and Sophia Albertina. King Gustav III ordered the construction of the fortress to be stopped in 1775. The fortress was left unfinished in many respects. The Svartholm sea fortress, on the other hand, was completed in the 1750s. The Swedish fortification period in Svartholm ended in 1808, when Svartholm surrendered to the Russians almost without resistance. The fortress has been undergoing restorations under the direction of the Finnish Heritage Agency since the 1960s.
Next on the route is a pair of fortresses located in Kotka (then called Ruotsinsalmi), comprising the Kyminlinna land fortress and the Ruotsinsalmi sea fortress. These fortresses were built after the Russians lost the great naval battle of Svensksund in 1790. Catherine the Great, who was in power at the time, ordered the construction of a fortress town to protect Ruotsinsalmi and the Kyminlinna land fortress to protect the Great Coast Road. Generalissimo Alexander Suvorov was responsible for the construction. The fortresses lost their military significance with the Treaty of Hamina signed in 1809, which changed the Swedish-Russian border line from Kymijoki River to Torniojoki River. As a result, soldiers were transferred to other garrisons and the importance of Ruotsinsalmi as a city diminished.
The last destination on the route is the Hamina fortress. Peter Brahe founded the town of Weckelax Nystad on the site of Hamina in 1653. After the town was destroyed in the Great Northern War, it was rebuilt in a circular pattern in the 1720s and named Fredrikshamn after Frederick I, King of Sweden. The name gained the form Hamina in Finnish. Sweden began to fortify what was then its eastern border against Russia, making Hamina a fortress town.
The Hamina fortress was built under the Swedish general Axel von Löwen in the 1720s. The fortress and the town were modelled on an Italian, star-shaped Renaissance fortress from the 16th century. The Swedes built the fortifications just as sand bulwarks. The Treaty of Turku in 1743 moved the border to the westernmost branch of Kymijoki River and the Hamina fortress was left to the Russians. They continued the fortification work in the 1740s, marking the start of the so-called Old Finland era under Russian rule in Hamina.
The star-shaped bastion fortress encloses the old circular town centre, whose eight radial streets start from the Town Hall Square. The radial streets have two circular cross streets, Isoympyräkatu and Pikkuympyräkatu, which follow the shape of the fortress. Pikkuympyräkatu is a full circle about 900 metres long.
The circular town, which is rare even on a global scale, with its ramparts and town plan is well preserved despite many large-scale fires that raged in the 19th century. The military traditions of Hamina have lived on, first in the Imperial Cadet School of Finland in the 19th century and later in the Reserve Officer School in the 20th century.
Author’s recommendation
- The Svartholm sea fortress can be explored on a virtual tour
- Familiarise yourself with the history of the Ruotsinsalmi fortress on Catherine’s Path. The path also includes information boards about the island’s fortifications
- The history of the Hamina fortress is explored on the Fortress Trail
It is a good idea to set aside two days for the route in order to have enough time to explore the attractions along it as well. For the overnight stay, accommodation option can be searched in the Visit Kotka-Hamina online shop
Rest stops
Svartholman merilinnoitus, LoviisaThe historical Laivasilta area in Loviisa
Merikeskus Vellamo
Safety information
The majority of the route runs along bikeways. The public road sections on the route are low in traffic.Tips and hints
Maritime Centre Vellamo offers an extensive exhibition titled Fateful Svensksund on the great naval battles of Svensksund and the establishment of the Ruotsinsalmi fortress. The exhibition provides a substantial information package as an impressively implemented experience. More information on the exhibitionStart
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
Note
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
The Loviisa, Kotka and Hamina town centres can be reached by long-distance bus lines. The Kotka city centre can also be reached by train.Getting there
Take ramp 67 from the E-18 motorway and continue south to Laivasilta following the directionsParking
There is plenty of free parking available in the Laivasilta area in Loviisa.Coordinates
Equipment
Some of the fortifications on the route are in poor condition or the access tracks are uneven, it is advisable to wear shoes with this in mind.Related Offers
Experience our cultural sites, such as our magnificent rapids, historical scenes, and the award-winning parks independently in the Kotka-Hamina region. ...
Statistics
- 16 Waypoints
- 16 Waypoints
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