back to frontpage
The Swedes built the Turku castle in 1280s in order to establish their rule in the Finnish region. First it was a fortified camp, but after the siege of Albrecht of Mecklenburg in the end of 1360s it went through remarkable enlargements and became more palacelike. The castles first period of prosperity was in the beginning of 15th century in the time of the Union of Kalmar. A new bloom was experienced in the 16th century, when the Duke Johan lived there with his renaissance court. In the 17th century the Provincial Bureau and the Court of Appeal were in the castle. The restoration began in 1950s and was completed in 1961. The historical Museum of Turku is located in the castle since 1881.
In South-Western Finland, about 165 km west from Helsinki
From most Finnish towns it is easy to reach Turku by bus or train. From Helsinki and from Tampere it takes about two hours by train. There are four ferry departures daily from Turku to Stockholm and several plain departures to Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki.
More information also from www.turunmuseot.fi
