FI-2285387 Olavinlinna - a medieval castle in Finland

Olavinlinna (Swedish: Olofsborg) is a 15th-century three-tower castle located in Savonlinna, Finland. It is the northernmost medieval stone fortress still standing. The castle is built on an island in the Kyrönsalmi Strait that connects the lakes Haukivesi and Pihlajavesi.

The fortress was founded by Erik Axelsson Tott in 1475 under the name Sankt Olofsborg.  At that time this area was under Swedish rule. It was the first Swedish castle provided with a set of thickset circular towers that could withstand cannon fire. It is not by accident that a network of lakes and waterways forms the setting for the castle, for these would seriously impede a prospective Russian offensive.

Olofsborg / Olavinlinna withstood several sieges by the Russians during the First and Second Russian-Swedish wars. In 1743, in the Treaty of Åbo the entire region was awarded to Empress Elizabeth of Russia.

Currently, the castle hosts several small exhibitions The Castle Museum displays artifacts found in the castle or related to it and the Orthodox Museum displays icons and other religious artifacts both from Finland and Russia. The castle forms a spectacular stage for the Savonlinna Opera Festival, held annually in the summer since 1912.

Taru sent me the first postcard of the castle in winter (5 September 2014) Direct Swap Postcrossing.

The second postcard of Olavinlinna came from Pirjo (20 January 2015) Postcrossing.