Finland - Turku

Finnish market

The oldest city in Finland, Turku, can be the proverbial icing on the cake on our tour of this beautiful country. It is the first capital of the country, and for many Europeans visiting Finland, the first city they come across - the port of Turku is regularly visited . In summer, it gets noisy on the banks of the Aurajoki River, with floating bars floating on the water. The name "Turku" in Finnish means "market square" and dates back to the time when the market here was the largest market on the south coast. In 2011, the city was awarded the title of the European Capital of Culture.

Contrary to the opinion of some who think that Turku is boring and has little to offer tourists, you can spend your time here pleasantly and pleasantly. The Craft Museum, an open-air museum where you can buy fresh bread and even hard candy, is very interesting. Tourists also have the opportunity to watch the lace-maker at work. The open-air museum in Turku is extremely unusual - unlike most other open-air museums, it was not created by gathering exhibits brought from different places in the country in one area, but the former artisan district of the city was transformed into it. This district, Luostarinmaki, was to be razed to the ground. Fortunately, this did not happen and in the 1930s the idea of creating a museum was born. It finally opened in the summer of 1940 with the idea of preserving declining professions. Currently, there are about forty of them, including a cooper, watchmaker and wheelwright.

Other attractions of the "boring" city

Turku has over 50 monuments, so there is really a lot to see here. One of the most important is the 13th-century castle (Turun linna), the oldest in Finland, built at the mouth of the river. It was established as a fortified camp - its purpose can be recognized immediately by its squat, massive structure and small windows. Tourists can visit the dungeons, see the castle halls, and visit the museum dedicated to the history of Finland and Turku himself.

In the city center, at the Old Great Square (Vanha Suurtori), there is another monument - the cathedral from the 13th century (Turun tuomiokirkko). It was damaged several times by fires, especially the Great Turku Fire of 1827. Its current interior and façade are largely restored. The walls and roof of the presbytery are decorated with beautiful frescoes, and the spire of the tower, 101 meters high, is visible from a considerable distance. It is a symbol of both the cathedral and the city itself. In front of the building there is a statue of Pera Brahe, the governor of Finland from the 17th century. Brahe contributed significantly to the fight against the illiteracy of Finns and founded the first Finnish university in 1640. On the other side of the cathedral, on a small hill, you will find the Maritime Museum and the Observatory. In addition to the various species of fish that will delight not only marine fauna enthusiasts, a great attraction is the wonderful view of Turku and the archipelago, which stretches from the windows on the top floor.

While in Turku, it is impossible not to visit Ruissalo, the island belonging to the city. It is located on the south-west side of the resort and offers tourists a variety of activities. There are many beautiful 19th-century villas worth seeing, as well as the vegetation of the botanical garden or the majestic oak forests. The island also has Kansanpuisto Park, where you can lose track of time. The charming island is also famous for the annual Ruisrock festival and the Ruissalo Spa hotel with a wide range of beauty, health and relaxation treatments.

"Moomins are happy ..."

Naantali belongs to the urban complex of Turku, characterized by nice buildings in the old part of the city, narrow streets and rustic pubs. Interesting is the nineteenth-century wooden building of the summer theater, which was built for many Russians relaxing here at that time. Currently, there is a restaurant inside the building. Naantali lies west of Turku and attracts visitors with its great tourist attraction - the Moomin Valley family park (Muumimaailma). It can be reached from Naantali by a special Moomin Train , which brings tourists to the entrance to the Valley.

And in the Valley ... you can take a picture with Little Mi or Ryjek, talk to Dad Moomin and sit in the kitchen with Moomin Mum. Picnics are organized here, varied programs for children, games and fun not only for the youngest. It is a real paradise for people who grew up on this fairy tale. Others may not understand it, but that's a waste of them.

The perfect place to rest

It is worth noting that there is a great place to stay on the island. Tired hikers can stay at Ruissalo Camping (Saaronniemi, Turku), located at the farthest end of the island . It is a well-equipped campsite with lots of pitches for motorhomes and beach access. Guests can use the sauna, there is also a grocery store , laundry , volleyball, basketball and badminton courts. There are playgrounds for children, and a cafe and restaurant for adults. We will pay 16 euros / day for a place for a vehicle, an adult's stay is 5 euros / day, and a child under 16 - 2 euros.

After the rest, we can return to the country, happy and satisfied with so many impressions and places we have met. Who knows, maybe next time we will come here for a much longer trip?