From a Nordic Gibraltar to a quiet Helsinki village

The maritime fortress of Suomenlinna was chosen as a World Heritage Site in 1991 as a monument of exceptional military architecture. The epicenter of Baltic Sea power struggles, the fortress was also an important military and naval base, christened with the name: "The Nordic Gibraltar".

Suomenlinna was built in the mid-eighteenth century when Finland was under Swedish rule. It was accordingly named Sweden's Castle or Sveaborg, and was meant to defend the Swedish crown from Russian attack. Commander August Ehrensvärd began overseeing construction of the fortress in 1748. The fortress was an important base for montoring seaways that led to Helsinki and the Swedish Navy maintained a principal base there. In its heyday, Sveaborg was also an important cultural influence and many new nuggets of knowledge, manners, fashions and values of the enclave made their way to mainland Helsinki from the island.

The Finnish territory was ceded to Russia in 1808 and Suomenlinna became a Russian garrison. Building soon commenced on new fortifications against a threat from the West. When Finland won its independence in 1917, a Finnish garrison was formed on the island. These garrisons were still in operation during the Second World War, housing anti-aircraft and artillery units. After this, the fortress gradually was turned over to civilian administration.

Today Suomenlinna is a peaceful village belonging to the capital city Helsinki, sporting some 850 year-long inhabitants. The fortress island contains a store, library, day care centre and lower comprehensive school. There is still a military presence on the island of Pikku-Mustasaari, which hosts the Naval Academy.