Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsingfors, the capital of Finland. The city was founded in 1550 under a Swede named Helsingfors; the helsing stem is often found in scandal. toponymy, but its meaning is unclear, fors Swede, "waterfall"... Fin. name of Helsinki (Helsinki) formed from swede. the name of the waterfall. In Russia before 1917 g. was taken by Helsingfors.
Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST... Pospelov E.M. 2001.
Helsinki
(Helsinki, Helsingfors), Swedish Gelsingfors , capital Finland... The city is located in the south of the country, on the coast Finnish hall. Baltic Sea... 539 thousand inhabitants (1998), in the agglomeration, incl. Vantaa and Espoo cities, more than 800 thousand people The climate is temperate, transitional to continental. Wednesday January temperature –9.7 ° С, July 16.8 ° С, precipitation approx. 700 mm per year. The bay does not freeze for long in winter. X. was founded in 1550 by decree of the Swedish king, in 1641 it was moved 5 km to the south, in the second half of the 18th century. at the entrance to the harbor, the Swedes erected the Sveaborg fortress. Since 1812, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland (as part of the Russian Empire), since December 1917 - an independent Finland. The historical core of X. is the Estnes Peninsula and the Sveaborg Fortress. The main monuments of architecture belong to the era of classicism 1st half of XIX in .: building of the former. Senate (1822), St. Nicholas Cathedral (1830–52), Helsinki University with a library (1828–45). Archyt. buildings of the Finnish nat. theater (1901), nat. Museum (1906–09), center. railway station (1904–14), parliament (1927–31). Univ, Academy of Music. J. Sibelius, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Academy of Finland and a number of scientific institutions. Botanical Garden. Finnish nat. opera, nat. Finnish and Swedish theaters, a number of other theaters. An important railway. node, seaport, int. Malmi airport. Ferry service to Tallinn. Machine; chemical, ceramic, text., sewing, knitwear, leather and footwear, furniture, paper, polygraph, food. prom-st. Metro. In 1952, the Games of the XV Olympiad were held in X. In 1975, the final act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe was signed here.
Dictionary of modern geographical names... - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .
HELSINKI
FINLAND
Helsinki (Swedish name - Helsingfors) is the capital of Finland and the administrative center of Liani Usima. The city stands on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea. The population of the capital is about 508 thousand inhabitants. Helsinki was founded in 1550 and since 1812 was the main city of the Grand Duchy of Finland (part of the Russian Empire). At the end of 1917, the city became the capital of independent Finland.
Helsinki is modern city, whose life is inherent in an international character, ties with the East and West, as well as a powerful cultural development. The vibrant business life gives the entire region a new dynamic.
The sea that surrounds Helsinki gives the city a special charm. This is an integral part of the urban image of the capital. Coastline the city is almost 100 km long, and there are 300 islands in the water area. IN summer time visiting the islands of the archipelago is very popular. IN winter time the islands can be reached by sea ice.
The inhabitants of Finland affectionately call their capital the daughter of the Baltic Sea. The city center is located on a promontory surrounded by the sea. Today's Helsinki has a wonderful combination of old and new, the beauty of the city with the beauty of nature. A specific feature of the city's architecture is quite large areas built up according to a single plan, which represent various trends in architecture from neoclassicism to modern schools, such as Ruoholati. The true masterpieces of architecture are the buildings in the Empire style on Senate Square: the Cathedral, the University, the State Council.
Cultural life is at its best, which was recognized by the election of Helsinki as one of the cultural capitals Europe 2000. A variety of cultural life is provided by three symphony orchestras. The National Opera and Ballet, almost 70 museums, a large number of art galleries, wonderful concert halls, 8 theaters, etc. The National Opera is a meeting place for theater, ballet and opera lovers, and in the Museum of Modern Art, avant-garde fans can see Finnish and world avant-garde art of our time.
The parish center of Helsinki located in Vanta is an example of a compositionally preserved whole rural village of the 17th-19th centuries. It is declared a monument of national importance and is subject to protection as a landscape complex. The Nissbakka manor dates back to the 16th century, and during the summer, temporary art exhibitions are held in its park and exhibition premises, and the works of the sculptor Laila Pullinet are also displayed there.
At the turn of the century, the Jugend style emerged in Helsinki, examples of which can be seen in the Katajanokka area. Other important attractions are, for example. Finland Palace, a church carved into the rock on Cathedral Square, a monument to Sibelius, the Olympic Stadium and the new Opera Palace. A suitable object for a walk on the sea is the zoo on the island of Korkeasaari, located near the center.
Esplanade is the busiest shopping street in the city, which starts from the Market Square located on the seaside. The largest department stores in the capital are located nearby. Along with the popularity of a trading city, Helsinki has also gained fame as a city of traditional diplomatic meetings, international conferences and congresses, so it can rightfully be called the Geneva of the North. In 1952, the Games of the XV Olympiad were held here.
Helsinki is interesting for tourists at any time of the year. In the summer, the bright nights and the sea, in the winter, the snow and the intense rhythm of the city attract to themselves. On Christmas and New Year's Eve, department stores beckon with a wide selection of gifts. But even then, many concerts and theatrical performances are held.
Helsinki is a major seaport and the main industrial center of the country. Machine building, shipbuilding, electrical, textile, chemical, ceramic, food industries are developed here. The city has a subway. International transportation is carried out by Malmi airport.
The capital is home to the University of Helsinki, the J. Sibelius Academy of Music (1882), the Academy of Fine Arts, the Suomenlinna Fortress Museum (Sveaborg), the Ateneum Art Museum, the Architectural, National, Customs, Ethnographic and other museums.
In 2000, Helsinki will celebrate the 450th anniversary of the city.
Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .
Helsinki
Helsinki (population - about 546 thousand people) - the capital of Finland (cm. Finland) - call White City North. It stands on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia in the southernmost part of Finland. The main Finnish port is located here. The city center is located on a promontory surrounded by the sea. The sea is an integral part of the city. It is not for nothing that the inhabitants call Helsinki “the daughter of the Baltic Sea”. The capital is adjacent to the Helsinki region, or Greater Helsinki. On the territory of this region are the cities of Vantaa with the international airport Espoo, Tikkurila, Kauniainen, Järvenpää and Kerava, the municipal districts of Tuusula, Nurmijärvi and Vihti.
Helsinki was founded by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden in 1550 at the mouth of the Vantaa River. In 1640, the Governor-General of Finland, Peter Braache, ordered to move the city to the peninsula, where the city center is now. Four years later, a fire destroyed the main part of Helsinki. In 1710, a plague broke out in Helsinki, which killed about half of the population. Not many more than three hundred people survived. After the war of 1808-1809, when Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland within the Russian Empire, the city became the capital of Finland in 1812 by the imperial decree of Alexander the First. Since 1917, Helsinki has been the capital of independent Finland. During World War II, Helsinki, along with London and Moscow, was the only capital of a country not occupied in Europe during the entire war that took part in the war. After the war, Helsinki hosted many important international events: the 1952 Olympic Games, the 1970 Strategic Arms Limitation Consultative Meeting, and the 1975 European Security and Cooperation Conference.
Today Helsinki is attracted by a wonderful combination of old and new, the beauty of the city with the beauty of nature. A significant part of the city was built up according to a single plan, these areas represent various trends in architecture from neoclassicism to modern schools, such as Ruoholati.
The true masterpieces of architecture are the buildings in the Empire style on Senate Square: the Cathedral, the University, the State Council. Senate Square with the surrounding buildings was built according to the designs of K. L. Engel. All buildings were erected between 1818 and 1852. The main merit of the architect is that he managed to create a harmonious and integral ensemble, sustained within the framework of neoclassicism, on the terrain rugged by hills and rocks.
In the center of the square there is a monument to Alexander II, created in 1894 by Walter Runeberg. Emperor Alexander II was loved by the Finnish people because he gave the Finns autonomy. Alexander II is depicted in the form of a guards officer during his speech. Around the imperial figure there is a sculptural group: "Law", "Peace", "Light" and "Labor".
The project of the cathedral, the old name of St. Nicholas Cathedral, was created at the beginning of 1818 by the architect Angel, but the construction work began only in 1830. In 1852 the Temple was consecrated. Angel was very pleased with the progress of the construction of the Temple. In his last letter, dated September 3, 1839, he wrote: "Elegance, which is difficult to surpass, prevails in the appearance of the Temple." Unfortunately, the architect never saw his creation fully completed.
In section, the Temple has the shape of a Byzantine cross. The cathedral is crowned with a high central dome and Corinthian columns on each side. Angel's successor, EB Lohrmann, added 4 small towers and two buildings to the building on the Senate Square side. Later statues of the 12 apostles were added.
The building of the university was built in 1832, but the university itself is much older: it is over 350 years old. The university was founded in the city of Turku, and after the fire was moved to Helsinki.
One of the most interesting sights in Helsinki is the church on Temppelinaukio Square, carved into the rock. Its only adornment is the copper plates with which the ceiling is lined; the church does not even have a dome. The church in the rock is perhaps the most successful monument of Art Nouveau architecture. It was built in just one year by the Finnish architects Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. In 1969, the church was consecrated, and very soon it received the status of an international church. The church building has the best acoustics in the world. It hosts concerts of organ and violin music.
The oldest building in the city is the Sveaborg sea fortress (the Finnish name for Suomenlinna). Its construction began in 1748 when Finland was part of Sweden. The architect and construction manager is the famous Swedish military leader, Count A. Ehrensward. In 1808, during the Russian-Swedish war, the fortress passed to Russia. With the transfer of the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland to Helsinki, Sveaborg acquired great strategic importance as a military base guarding the sea approaches to the city. After Finland gained independence, the fortress was first used as a concentration camp for soldiers of the Finnish Red Guard. Then a military garrison was located here, and in 1973 Sveaborg came under civilian control and turned into a unique archipelago-museum under open aircontaining the history of three countries - Sweden, Russia and Finland.
Among the main attractions, in addition to the fortifications themselves, are the Finnish submarine from the Second World War, the Manezh military museum, museums of dolls and toys, customs, and several art galleries.
The largest Orthodox cathedral in Europe, the Assumption Cathedral, is located in Helsinki. The cathedral was built in 1868 by the architect Alexander Gornostaev. Architectural solutions go back to the church wooden architecture of the 14th century. According to the Orthodox tradition, there is a lot of symbolism in the architecture of the cathedral: 13 onions of the domes are a symbol of Christ and the twelve apostles. The interior is made in the Byzantine and Russian traditions.
One of the most visited attractions in Helsinki is the monument to the composer Sibelius.
Eila Hiltunen won the competition for the best project organized by the Sibelius Society. The competition aroused great public interest: the controversy between abstractionists and figurative artists was resolved when a bust of Sibelius was added to the Hiltunen composition. This monument is unique in its spatial solution, which allows visitors to go inside, where various acoustic effects are achieved.
In the center of Helsinki, a huge railway station building stands out, built at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect E. Saarinen in the style of national romanticism using decorative elements of medieval Finnish architecture.
The Parliament building, a symbol of Finland's independence, is impressive in its massiveness, built in the late 1920s by the architect J. Siren in the neoclassical style. Not far from the Parliament, a monument to Marshal KG Mannerheim is erected; the central avenue of the city is named after him. Next to the Parliament is a medieval castle built National Museum.
The statue of a cheerful nymph, created by the sculptor Ville Wallgren, was installed in the fall of 1908. For almost 100 years it has been one of the symbols of Helsinki. Unlike other monuments to great figures located in the city center, this fountain is playful and casual. The statue was named "Havis Amanda", which means "sea nymph" in Swedish. In the 1930s, a tradition arose for the Wappa student holiday, which falls on May 1, to put on a student's cap on Manta's head (as the Finns call the statue).
Cyril and Methodius Tourism Encyclopedia. 2008 .
Synonyms:
See what "Helsinki" is in other dictionaries:
Helsinki - Helsinki. Finnish National Theater building. HELSINKI (Swedish Helsingfors), the capital (since 1917) of Finland. 502 thousand inhabitants. Port on the shore of the Gulf of Finland; international Airport... Metro. Mechanical engineering (shipbuilding, ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (Helsinki), Swedish Helsingfors, capital of Finland. Located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Sea. The city was founded in 1550. Planned building was carried out from the beginning of the XIX century. according to a regular plan (1808 17, architect I. ... ... Art encyclopedia
- [Finnish. Helsinki is the name of the capital of Finland] watered. the abbreviated title of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), signed by the heads of 35 participating countries (including the USSR and the USA) in 1975 in Helsinki from ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
The capital of Finland cannot boast of pompous lush architecture, a lot of historical sights and some particularly outstanding cultural heritage... However, Helsinki is a distinctive, atmospheric city and it definitely has a certain charm.
The city government welcomes contemporary architectural designs. Thanks to this, tourists can admire the unusual Temppeliaukio Church and Kamppi Chapel of Silence. The granite-clad embankments of the Finnish capital turn into discreet and majestic panoramas of the Baltic Sea, where cruise ships and ferries sway on the waters.
Helsinki is a solid, solid and prosperous city. There are no enchanting Gothic cathedrals and castles, but there is incomparable Kiasma, austere northern nature and the triumph of common sense.
The best hotels and hotels at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles / day
What to see and where to go in Helsinki?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
1. Cathedral and Senate Square
Senate Square is one of three central squares Finnish capital. Attractions and main attractions are concentrated around it. tourist routes... The place is decorated with an architectural ensemble Cathedral, which was built in the first half of the 19th century after the proclamation of Helsinki as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland. Inside the cathedral there is a monument to the founder of the Reformation - M. Luther.
2. Monument to Sibelius
A monument dedicated to the famous and revered Finnish composer Jan Sibelius. Several streets, a music academy, and a city park are also named in honor of this outstanding historical figure. The monument was erected in 1967 according to the project of E. Hiltunen. This is an abstract composition, which is a pile of metal pipes and a bas-relief of the composer located at the foot.
3. Havis Amanda
City fountain, one of the symbols of the Finnish capital. The project was developed by the sculptor V. Vallgren at the beginning of the 20th century. In the middle of the sculptural group there is a statue of a woman - "sea nymph", on the sides are fabulous sea lions. It's hard to believe, but before the installation of the monument, there were heated discussions for more than two years about the decency of installing a nude figure in the city center.
4. Sveaborg fortress
A sea fort located on rocky islands near Helsinki. From the city center, you can quickly get there by ferry. Sveaborg is a Swedish name, the Finns call the fortress Suomenlinna. The building was erected in the middle of the 18th century at a time when Finland was part of Sweden. The fortress was the base for the Swedish fleet and protected the approaches to Helsinki.
5. Temppeliaukio Church
An original temple located in a natural rock. The church is considered one of the most striking landmarks in Helsinki. The unusual architecture creates a stunning acoustic effect in the church hall. The progressive design idea belongs to the Suomalainen brothers. The temple was built in the 70s. XX century and quickly gained fame and popularity. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Temppeliaukio Church every year.
6. Assumption Cathedral
An Orthodox church built by A.M. Gornostaeva in the middle of the 19th century. Architectural style cathedral is a mixture of Byzantine style and traditions of Russian temple architecture. In 1872 he was given the status of a cathedral. On this moment The Assumption Cathedral in Helsinki is the largest Orthodox church in Western and Northern Europe.
7. Kallio Church
The granite bulk of the Kallio Church is often called a striking creation of the so-called “Finnish” Art Nouveau or “national romanticism”. This rather original structure appeared in 1912 and soon became the main attraction of the entire Kallio area. It is believed that the architect L. Sonck, when designing the building, took as a model the description of the Old Testament temple of Solomon (including its impressive size).
8. Church of St. John
Lutheran church of the late 19th century, a grandiose creation of the Swedish architect A. Melander. It was built on the place where the pagan holiday of Ivan Kupala was always celebrated. The church is very impressive in size - at the same time it can accommodate 2,600 people. The building was built in the "standard" neo-Gothic style, the interior space is decorated with wooden decor, which was created by the best Finnish craftsmen.
9. Kamppi Chapel of Silence
The modern building, erected in 2012 by M. Summanen, N. Sirol and K. Lintula, is an interesting and striking example of the latest architecture in Helsinki. The chapel is not a temple in the usual sense, services are not held here, but on its territory you can get psychological help or just take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city space.
10. National Museum of Finland
Museum of the History of Finland, where you can trace the development of the land of Suomi (as the Finns call their state) from ancient times to the modern period. The museum exhibits are quite extensive - from clay shards to the thrones of rulers, from medieval weapons to the technical achievements of Nokia. The museum was opened to visitors in 1916.
11. Museum of Design
The museum exhibits showcase the achievements of Finnish applied arts. It often hosts exhibitions, international events, demonstrations of fashion collections of young designers. The museum was founded in 1873 as a workshop for teaching the applied arts. Now this place is considered one of the best modern creative venues in Europe.
12. Museum of Natural History
One of the three largest national museums in Finland. The exhibition on natural history and evolution is spread over four floors. Among the most valuable artifacts are fossil exhibits that are more than a thousand years old. The collection is divided into four parts: "History of Life", "Nature of Finland", "History of Bones", "Nature of the World".
13. Science Museum "Eureka"
The museum is located in the city of Vantaa near the Finnish capital. It is an interactive game, educational and entertainment center, where visitors of different ages can experiment, explore the nature of physical phenomena and just have a good time. In museum "laboratories", under the guidance of specialists, more complex experiments can be carried out.
14. Ateneum Art Museum
The Art Gallery, which houses a rich collection of works of art. A special place is given to the canvases of Finnish artists - representatives of the Golden Age period in national art. There are also works by recognized world classics: Van Gogh, P. Gauguin, Modigliani, Degas, F. Goya, Cezanne and others. The collection contains a large number of paintings by Russian artists: Levitan, Shishkin, Repin, Polenov.
15. Kiasma
A grandiose museum of modern art housed in a monumental building of modern architecture. The museum specializes in collecting works by Finnish craftsmen and artists from neighboring countries. Often, many works are created by Kiasma's order. Now the collection of the museum has about 9 thousand exhibits, but the funds are constantly replenished and the exposition is growing.
16. Seurasaari - open air museum
The museum is located on the island of the same name to the west of Helsinki. There are similar expositions in many European countries, they are designed to acquaint tourists with the traditional way of life and the life of the local population. In Seurasaari, you can see wooden dwellings of villagers, Finnish saunas, farm buildings, mills, religious buildings brought from all over the country.
17. Market square
The square was formed at the beginning of the 19th century. Since then, it has been home to a market popular with Helsinki visitors and locals. On the square you can buy souvenirs, fresh food, delicious fish, and also have a delicious lunch. From here, ferries leave for Suomenlinna. An obelisk in honor of the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna has been erected on the square.
18. Old covered market
Shopping arcade on the shores of the South Bay, located in an elegant brick building from the 19th century. The market offers a large selection of meat, fish, seafood, bread, various pastries. There is also a local delicacy and sushi shop - restaurant. The Old Market Hall is a fairly atmospheric place with carved wooden counters, small shops and friendly vendors.
19. Train station Helsinki
The relatively small building of the capital's railway station is an architectural monument of the early XX century. It was erected by the architect E. Saarinen. The Art Nouveau facade is decorated with figures of stone giants created by E. Vikström. Numerous commuter trains and trains leave from the station long distance to various European countries and to Russia.
20. Serena water park
A water park in the suburbs of Helsinki, which is open to the public all year round. Quite a few slides are located in the open air, and you can often see a picture of children frolicking in the water during the cool Finnish summer at a temperature of only +19 ° C. When buying an All Inclusive ticket, you can visit all attractions, a bar and a restaurant (alcohol for a fee).
21. Sea Life Marine Center
Oceanarium located in the northern part of the Finnish capital. A wide variety of marine life is represented in Sea Life aquariums: stingrays, sharks, corals, jellyfish, seahorses, exotic tropical fish, inhabitants of the harsh northern seas. On the territory of the aquarium there are group excursions in Finnish, Swedish and English. The guide also contains information in Russian.
22. Linnanmaki
An amusement park and attractions, quite popular with tourists and locals. Up to a million visitors come to Linnanmäki every year. Carousels and amusement parks are made in leading European countries and meet the latest safety requirements. There are several free rides for children in the park.
23. Korkeasaari Zoo
The zoo is located on the island of the same name. It was founded in 1889 by A. Fabricius. The first inhabitants of the zoo were bears. In the territory of Korkeasaari live snow leopards, which in our time are on the verge of extinction. In addition to the magnificent northern animals, in the zoo you can admire reptiles, tropical birds, and representatives of exotic fauna.
24. Botanical Garden
The garden is located near the central part of Helsinki. On the territory of the park there are rose gardens, greenhouses and a system of artificial ponds. In summer, the garden turns into a magnificent blooming and fragrant canvas. On its territory, thematic events, all kinds of exhibitions, contests, actions in protection of nature are regularly held.
25. Esplanade Park
City park, Finnish "Champs Elysees" and one of the favorite walking places for locals and visitors to Helsinki. Here you can have a great rest in between visiting the many shops and attractions of the Finnish capital. In the eastern part of the Esplanade, there is a small concert venue where progressive bands perform in the summer.
Helsinki, Finland's dynamic capital city, is a vibrant and vibrant city on the seaside with the most beautiful islands and lush green parks. Helsinki is a city with its own amazing and unique rhythm that amazes visitors with its cuisine, design, architecture and saunas! Helsinki, like all the Northern European culture represented in it, was created by the painstaking work of local residents.
Helsinki is the largest city in Finland. The population of the metropolitan area is 1.4 million. If you look at the map, you can see that Helsinki is comfortably located in the northernmost corner of Europe, but getting there is not difficult, thanks to the convenient air links connecting the eastern and western directions. No flights? No problem! Helsinki can be easily reached from St. Petersburg, Estonia and Sweden via the Baltic Sea. Indeed, the sea is one of the most characteristic features of this city. The Helsinki archipelago consists of more than 300 fascinating islands.
Life in the city proceeds in an imposing and unhurried rhythm, and it is very easy to establish contact with this city, both literally and figuratively. System public transport Helsinki is considered one of the best in the world - thanks to one excellent metro line - the city is also convenient to get around on foot or by bike.
In addition to Helsinki, within the radius of the capital region there are also other interesting cities and places full of attractions to visit. These include the neighboring cities of Espoo and Vantaa, historical city Porvoo, Järvenpää-Tuusula region, renowned for its rich artistic heritage and artisan villages located west of Helsinki, which once housed iron foundries. There are 6 national parks and countless other natural attractions less than a 2-hour drive from Helsinki.
Go for a walk in the woods, enjoy concerts, festivals, traditional Nordic dinners or visit one of the iconic public saunas - you can find it all here!
The city of Helsinki is located on the territory of a state (country) Finland, which in turn is located on the continent Europe.Population of the city of Helsinki.
The population in the city of Helsinki is 630,225 people.Year of foundation of the city of Helsinki.
Year of foundation of the city of Helsinki: 1550.What time zone is Helsinki located in?
The city of Helsinki is located in the administrative time zone: UTC + 2, in summer UTC + 3. Thus, you can determine the time difference in the city of Helsinki, relative to the time zone in your city.Helsinki phone code
Telephone area code of Helsinki: +358. In order to call the city of Helsinki from a mobile phone, you need to dial the code: +358 and then directly the subscriber's number.Official site of the city of Helsinki.
The website of the city of Helsinki, the official website of the city of Helsinki or as it is also called the "Official website of the administration of the city of Helsinki": http://www.hel.fi/.Coat of arms of the city of Helsinki.
The description of the city of Helsinki presents the coat of arms of the city of Helsinki, which is the hallmark of the city.Metro in the city of Helsinki.
The metro in the city of Helsinki is called the Helsinki Metro and is a means of public transport.The passenger traffic of the Helsinki metro (the congestion of the Helsinki metro) is 57.30 million people per year.
The number of metro lines in the city of Helsinki is 1 lines. The total number of metro stations in Helsinki is 17. The length of metro lines or the length of metro tracks is: 21.10 km.
Helsinki Is the capital of Finland. The city is considered the largest in the country. Helsinki is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the Vantaa River, which flows into the Baltic. For a long time the city had a different name in Swedish - Helsinfors.
History
The city was founded in 1550 by the first Swedish king, Gustav Vasa. For almost two hundred years, the town did not develop, it looked more like a large village, where locals engaged in fishing. The city constantly suffered from outbreaks of plague.
In 1748, the first fortress built by the Swedes, Sveaborg, appeared in the city. After that, the city began to grow, the first stone houses appeared in it. we remind you that at that time Finland was not an independent state, but was a large Swedish province. Therefore, the administrative center of the province of Finland was the city of Turku (Swedish name - Abo).
Russian troops captured Helsinki four times during the Northern War with Sweden, and two subsequent Russian-Swedish wars.
After the last Swedish war, all of Finland became part of the Russian Empire and remains part of it until the end of 1917. Helsinki has developed and grown continuously over the years. After joining Russia, the capital of Finland was moved from Turku to Helsinki.
In 1870 a railway was built in the city. She connected Helsinki with St. Petersburg. After the appearance of the railway, the city's economic growth only intensified.
During the First World War, the city was occupied by the Kaiser troops of Germany. Thanks to them, parts of the Red Army were driven out of the city, and Finland soon gained independence.
In 1939, the aggressive military circles of Finland, led by Marshal Mannerheim, approached the German fascists. Finland became an ally of Nazi Germany and began to directly threaten the USSR with a military attack. The world was very fragile, and in the end the Soviet-Finnish war broke out, which led to the fact that Finland lost part of its lands on the Karelian Isthmus, including Vyborg. The border was moved away from Leningrad by almost 100 km to the west. Helsinki was subjected to continuous bombing from the USSR.
However, with the beginning of the war of fascist Germany against the USSR, Finland joined the Germans and also aboutdeclared war. City bombing soviet aviation continued until the fall of 1944, until Finland admitted defeat.
After the war, the city was rebuilt and turned into one of the most modern cities in Northern Europe.
Map
Museums
By tradition, we begin our acquaintance with the city with its museums.
Helsinki City Museum Is a museum of the history of the Finnish capital. The exhibition halls showcase all the historical stages of the development of Helsinki, from its inception to the present day. The museum has several departments, which can rightfully be considered separate museums, but organizationally they are part of one large historical museum. The main building houses a central exhibition on the history of the city.
In the House of the Finnish Burger, the home environment of a well-to-do Finn has been recreated.
Another branch of the Historical Museum is School museumlocated at a different address in Helsinki. The historical Finnish school of the nineteenth century has been recreated here.
Finnish Tram Museum - located in the center of Helsinki. Almost all brands of trams are collected here, from the first horse tram to the ultra-modern.
The next major museum in the Finnish capital is National Museum of Finland ... The museum was founded a hundred years ago, in 1910 and introduces visitors to rich history Finland, from the Swedish period to modern.
Finnish National Gallery - is divided into three separate museums: the Art Museum, the Khiasma Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sinebryukhov Art Museum. Let's take a look at each of these museums in order.
Art Museum Is the largest museum in Finland, which contains the largest collection of paintings by medieval European Renaissance artists. The museum was founded in 1921. It was founded by the Russian owner of one of the Finnish brewing companies Nikolay Sinebryukhov.
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma - this museum houses about 4000 exhibits of modern Finnish art. It is also structurally part of the National Museum of Finland.
Athenaeum Museum - another art museum in Helsinki, considered the central one in the city. There are more than 20,000 thousand paintings, sculptures that have been collected for 250 years - since 1750.
Another interesting museum in the capital of Finland is mail museum... Here you can find samples of postcards from European countries, uniforms of postmen in Finland and other countries, various mailboxes. This is a very interesting museum!
Finnish Maritime Museum (Suomen merimuseo) - this museum tells the story of Finland's maritime glory, especially during the years when it was part of Sweden. There are models of sailing ships and boats.
War Museum in Helsinki - this central museum armed forces Finland. The museum contains expositions dedicated to the history of military affairs in Finland. A large area is occupied by expositions dedicated to the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940.
House of Marshal Mannerheim in Helsinkiand - all home furnishings are recreated here.the replaced Finnish military leader of 1939-1940 - at the time when he was the commander-in-chief of the Finnish armed forces.
sights
It's time to take a walk through the streets and squares of Helsinki!
Senate square Is a visiting card of the city! Nicholas Cathedral stands on the square. Another monument adorns the square - the monument to the Russian emperor Alexander I. Appointments and business meetings are scheduled on Senate Square. and…. a huge number of pigeons constantly flock here, to the delight of local pigeon lovers who come here to feed them.
Suomenlinna (" Finnish fortress») or Sveaborg ("Swedish region") - preserved fortress bastions. Today they are located within the city on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
The fortress was built on 7 rocky islands, which are called "Wolf Skerries". These islands are connected by bridges. The fortress was taken by storm in 1808 by Russian troops. After these events, Finland became an integral part of the Russian Empire.
ZooKorkeasaari - is considered one of the oldest and northern zoos in the world. In the zoo itself, there are about 200 species of various animals. There is a ferry to the zoo in summer from the city center.
Helsinki market square Is the busiest place in the Finnish capital. Many city bus and tram routes start from here and go to various outskirts of the city.
And on this square is the next attraction - Presidential palace ... This is the working residence of the Finnish president. The palace was built about 200 years ago - in 1820 for one of the wealthy merchants. at the time when Finland was part of the Russian Empire, one of the residences of the Russian emperors was located here.
Aleksanterinkatu - the central historical street of the city. In Russian it is called Aleksandrovskaya. The most expensive restaurants, shops, cafes and nightclubs of the city are concentrated here. This street is crowded even at night.
Olympic stadium in Helsinki - the Summer Olympic Games were held here in 1952. Football matches of the national team of Finland andcapital football club HIK.
Religious buildings
Helsinki is considered a major Lutheran religious center. There are many churches in the city. Let's list the most famous of the temples:
lutheran Cathedral of St. Nicholas;
Assumption Cathedral Orthodox Church Finland;
temppeliaukio Church, this temple is carved into the rock;
kallio Lutheran Church;
German church;
church of st. Trinity, Orthodox;
töölö Church - Lutheran;
karuna Church is Lutheran.
Monuments
Monuments also lend one of the northern european capitals solid look:
a monument to the Russian emperor Alexander I;
a monument to the Finnish poet Runeberg;
a monument to the sea nymph Havis Amanda;
a monument to Gustav Mannerheim;
monument to athlete Paavo Nurmi;
a monument to the Finnish composer Jan Sibelius;
a monument to three blacksmiths;
a monument to President Paasikivi;
a monument to the Finnish playwright Alexis Kiwi;
monument to Finnish banker Johan Wilhelm Snellman.
Railway stations
In Helsinki alone train Station... By train from the Finnish capital you can go to St. Petersburg, Moscow, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen.
Parks
We will walk through the parks of the Finnish capital. There are a lot of them.
Esplanade Park Is the oldest park in Helsinki and is located in the very center of the city. The main tourist routes in Helsinki converge here.In terms of the number of trees and beauty, this park is in no way inferior to the Champs Elysees in Paris! There is always a jazz orchestra playing here on weekends. Residents of the Finnish capital and guests of the city always like to walk here.
Kaivopuisto Park - located in the south of the city. Once the park was considered real resort areabecause it goes straight to the Gulf of Finland. Another attraction is located in the park itself - the botanical garden of the University of Helsinki. Here you can have a good rest - there is a beautiful football field, volleyball courts and tennis courts in the park.
Markets
We finish our acquaintance with the city by visiting the markets of the city.
Helsinki Old Market Hall - justifies its name. The highest quality products are traded here. Largein the second part of the market there are rows where fish are sold. As in the capitals of other Scandinavian countries, here you can buy fresh almost any sea fish caught in the Baltic Sea!
Well, and, according to tradition, let's take a look at the Finnish "flea market" - the central flea market of Hietalahti. This is the largest flea market in Helsinki. They sell old coins, clothes, shoes, furniture.
Climate
No matter how strange it may seem, the issue of swimming in the Finnish capital is no more acute than in Athens. On a hot July day, the Gulf of Finland in the Helsinki region can warm up to 22-23 degrees! Therefore…. they swim here in the Baltic Sea, and with great pleasure! The only difference from southern seas - very short swimming season - two months. Swim in the Gulf of Finland in July and August.
