back to frontpage
The town of Lappeenranta (Villmanstrand) was founded by Per Brahe at the old Lappee marketplace in 1649. The order for founding the town was given by Queen Kristina. Lappeenranta became a border town after founding of St. Petersburg city and after peace of Uusikaupunki in 1721. The Swedes started to fortify Lappeenranta. The next war between Sweden and Russia took place in 1741-1743. The battle of Lappeenranta in 1741 destroyed the town completely and Sweden lost the war. After the peace of Turku in 1743 Lappeenranta became a Russian border town. Catherine the Great ordered Generalissimo Alexandr Suvorov to fortify the border area in Southeast Finland. Suvorovīs fortress was completed in 1790īs. After year 1809 when Finland became autonomic Grand Duchy of Russia, the fortress of Lappeenranta lost its meaning of defence. The fortress acted as a military and prison area during the wars of twentieth century. The fortress was restored in 1976-2006. South Karelia Museum, South Karelia Art Museum and Cavalry Museum are situated in the fortress area.
In Southeast Finland, 221 km from Helsinki, 210 km from St. Petersburg, 27 km from Russian border, 59 km from Vyborg.
http:www3.lappeenranta.fi/linnoitus
Easy road and railway connection from Finland and Russia. Water route for example from Savonlinna and from Vyborg and Baltic Sea by Saimaa Canal. Flights from Helsinki.
