Sergey Kuznetsov

Introduction We went to Turku on our Scandinavian way from Russia to Germany. The First day: Moscow-Vyborg. The second day: Vyborg-Turku. The city of Turku is an administrative centre of a province the Western Finland, is located in a southwest of the country in a mouth of Aurajoki River. The city is widely stretched on the both coasts of Aurajoki close to its mouth. The river crosses Turku from northeast to southwest. A lay-out in the city centre is rectangular - all streets last either in parallel the river, or perpendicular to it. Central square Kauppatori (i.e. Market-square) is located in a right-bank part of Turku. All the main sights are concentrated at Aurajoki's coasts. The atmosphere of this region in many respects is defined by the sea. The coastal area around of present city Turku ... read more

Introduction We visited Stockholm on our northern way from Russia to Germany. It has turned out a little bit more long way on a distance. But the opportunity to get acquainted with three northern capitals - Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen - has weighed down and we have chosen this very way. We have not regretted about the choice. All three capitals are worthy more careful studying. We had only several hours for excursion in Helsinki and Copenhagen and the whole excursion day in Stockholm. It was possible to get acquainted with its sights very superficially. However now we know what for it is necessary to return there once again. Stockholm is located on 14 large islands which lay between Saksjon - a gulf of the Baltic Sea and the Malaren Lake. All the main sights of ... read more

Introduction The central square, church with a cemetery and a building of a town hall settled down in area of the present Senatorial square (Senaatintori) in 1600-1700. Buildings surrounding the square began to build up again after strong destructions during Northern war 1700-1721. When Helsinki became the capital, the city centre was completely reconstructed under the plan of the native of Helsinki J.A.Erenstryom and under projects of well-known German architect K.L.Engel, who worked before in Tallinn and St.-Petersburg. Karl Engel created a number of impressing public buildings in style of neoclassicism. The building of the State Council, the main building of the Helsinki University and the Lutheran Cathedral are really beautiful. All these buildings surround the Senatorial square - the city centre which was created in 1818-1852. It is considered an outstanding masterpiec... read more

Introduction In 1293, during the III-d crusade organized by the marshal of Sweden Torgils Knuttson, regent of juvenile king Birger, the Swedish armies, having destroyed the strengthened Karelian forpost, established a fortress Vyborg on the island in the Finland gulf. Vy - means "sacred", Borg - means "a fortress". So the translation from ancient Swedish Vyborg means "a sacred fortress". The first construction became a tower of Sacred Olaph - quadrangular in plan tower of the Vyborg castle. Time passed… A settlement expanded under walls of the castle. In 1403 a fortress Vyborg received the status of a city. Appearance of the castle changed also. In XV century it by the right was considered as the most beautiful castle of Sweden. The future king Charles Kristersson Bunde wrote: " … the Master of Vyborg spent much ... read more