Not far from the Russian-Finnish border, 136 km from St. Petersburg, is the ancient Vyborg. Founded in 1293, over its centuries-old history, it managed to be Swedish, Russian,
Finnish, and after 1944 – Soviet. Such a colorful past of the city is reflected in its modern appearance. Here, ancient fortifications coexist with Viking settlements and the only medieval castle in Russia, while imperial buildings peacefully coexist next to buildings from the Soviet period.
Town Hall Tower
It is located on Vyborgskaya Street and has been preserved since the time of the medieval Swedish city. Covered with a tiled roof, a quadrangular structure made of granite boulders, built in the 70s of the 15th century, was part of a 2-kilometer-long fortress wall. Over the years, the purpose of the tower has changed several times. Erected as a defensive bastion, at the end of the 16th century it lost its protective functions and was placed at the disposal of the magistrate.
Since the building became the property of the local government, it was called the Town Hall Tower. The weapons and armor of the townspeople were kept here. In the 17th century, the fate of the structure changed again: the bell tower of the Cathedral of the Dominican Monastery settled in the stone walls. In 1940, at the very end of the Finnish War, a bomb hit the tower and deprived it of its pointed dome. Restoration work began in 1952, with the last major restoration completed in 2018.
The Tower of the Town Hall, like many other historical buildings of the city, is part of the Vyborg United Museum-Reserve. Currently, on its top floor there is an exhibition showing rarities of the 17th-19th centuries found by archaeologists in an ancient structure. From the huge windows of the room offers a beautiful view of the surroundings.
Church of Hyacinth
There is an inconspicuous-looking stone Gothic building on Vodnaya Zastava Street. Created in the 16th century as a monastery school, a century later it was rebuilt for the needs of the noble assembly and was called the Knights' House. In 1799, the building again returned under the wing of the Catholic Church, and in Soviet times, a children's art school and an art gallery were located within its walls.
Today there is a museum in the Church of Hyacinth. Its collection includes artifacts, objects of Catholic culture and objects discovered during archaeological excavations carried out near the former fortress walls. The most interesting parts of the exposition are the interactive torture chamber and the hall of the remains of Swedish ships raised from the bottom of the Gulf of Finland. There is also a taxidermy room where you can see the rare stuffed lobster, king penguin and Canada beaver.
Children especially like to visit one of the exhibitions, because its exhibits do not gather dust behind glass windows. Everything that is presented in the Knights' Hall – clothes, armor, weapons, everyday life items – can be touched and, if desired, tried on.
In the ancient walls it is so easy to feel like a fearless warrior or a beautiful lady. And the caretakers of the complex will help you put on the outfit you like, tell you about the life of bygone times and answer all the questions of inquisitive guests.
Clock tower
The stone building on Krepostnaya Street is familiar to many from the film “Sannikov Land”. The tower, dominating the buildings of the medieval quarters, appeared in Vyborg at the beginning of the 15th century as a bell tower adjacent to the Catholic church. The initiator of the construction was the Pope, who called on the townspeople to make a feasible contribution to the construction of the church.
In 1600, the belfry acquired a striking clock, after which it was dubbed the Clock Tower. The fate of the building cannot be called easy: in its lifetime it survived several fires and was rebuilt more than once. The fire did not spare even the clock. In 1848, they installed new dials and a mechanism equipped with two weights weighing 8 and 12 pounds. It still functions properly to this day, having survived the bombing of 1940.
Until recently, tourists, having overcome several flights of steep stairs, could climb to the upper tier of the tower, where the observation deck was located. In addition to the panorama of the city, travelers had a view of the “innards” of the historical building: inscriptions left on the walls by restorers of bygone eras, and weights that set the mechanism of an old clock in motion. Now one of the iconic sights of Vyborg is closed for reconstruction.
Round Tower
Another monument of medieval architecture – the Round Tower – adorns the Market Square. This attraction appeared in the middle of the 16th century and was an element of a defensive structure located 17 meters from the fortress wall. The dimensions of the bastion are impressive: a 3-storey building with a diameter of 21 m had mighty walls 4 m thick.
In 1710, when the Swedish city fell under the onslaught of the Russian army, the tower was dubbed “Petrovskaya”. Among the people, the building, which lost its protective function and turned into an arsenal warehouse (and later into a barn for stray cattle), was called “Tolstoy Catherine”.
In 1922, thanks to the architect Uno Ulberg, a restaurant was opened in the building, famous for its Gothic interior and wall paintings on historical themes. During the Second World War, the Finnish field kitchen was located in the premises of the tower.
In the post-war period, the tower changed several statuses, having been both a pharmacy warehouse and a public catering trust. After the restoration in 1976, a bar was opened on the ground floor, and a restaurant occupied the second and third floors, the halls of which recreate the atmosphere of a medieval tavern.
Museum-reserve “Yalkala”
85 km from Vyborg, between the Bolshoi Simaginskoe and Long Lakes, there is an island of dense coniferous forests and silence – the reserve “Yalkala”. This region is known not only for its relic relief and diversity of flora and fauna. In August 1917, here, in the house of the Parviainen family, Lenin was hiding from the Provisional Government.
The main attraction of Yalkala is the historical and ethnographic complex, which opened in 1940, immediately after the end of the Soviet-Finnish (Winter) War. Initially, his collection was entirely devoted to the time of Lenin's last underground.
In 1993, the exposition, which tells about the leader of the world proletariat, was replaced by an exhibition introducing the life of the population of the Karelian Isthmus. The exhibits – interior items, utensils, clothing, archival documents and photographs – are housed in a former residential building built at the end of the 19th century.
Not far from the building, among giant pines, there is a rare monument depicting Lenin and Stalin standing side by side. The author of the bronze figures, the total weight of which exceeded one ton, is the sculptor Matvey Manizer. In addition, on the territory of the reserve there is a small snow-white temple, erected in 2011 in memory of those who died during wars and disasters on the Karelian Isthmus.
Museum of Underwater Archeology
One of the most unusual objects – the only Museum of Underwater Archeology in Russia – is located in the gunpowder magazine of the Swedish bastion Panzerlaks, built in the 16th century. The collection, housed in five halls of the stone building, includes items recovered from the bottom of the Vyborg Bay during the 20-year-old expedition “Memory of the Baltic”.
Scuba divers worked in the most difficult conditions: visibility tended to zero, and the water temperature did not rise above +8°C. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a 24-pound, rusted cannon. According to the information plate, this formidable weapon until 1999 rested at a 23-meter depth of the Baltic Sea.
The exposition of the first hall acquaints visitors with the progress of underwater archaeological work. This theme is continued by the exhibits of the second hall, where the first finds of researchers are collected: fragments of the Swedish ship Lovisa Ulrika. The rest of the rooms exhibit the remains of ships that sank during the Russian-Swedish war at the end of the 18th century.
Most of the collection is made up of military maps, archival documents, weapons and ammunition: cannonballs, bombs, buckshot. The collection is complemented by elements of the hulls of ships that died in the waters of the Vyborg Bay.
Military Museum of the Karelian Isthmus
Located on Krepostnaya Street, where military barracks were previously located, today the Museum of the Karelian Isthmus is open – a small piece of land between Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland. This region survived 124 wars, of which the Soviet-Finnish battles of 1939–1944 were the bloodiest. The exposition, created on the basis of the private collection of Bair Irincheev, the ideological inspirer and director of the complex, is dedicated to them.
The exhibits greet visitors even before entering the building. A T-26 tank, an armored personnel carrier, a MIG-19 aircraft and a D-44 gun were placed on a small parade ground. Among the exhibits are objects that are directly related to the Soviet-Finnish wars: machine guns, machine guns, equipment, books, photographs, maps, fragments of interiors. You can try on uniforms, and you can hold mock-ups of weapons in your hands.
The second part of the exposition is housed in a huge room, which previously served as a cadet's canteen, and is now occupied by a diorama recreating one of the episodes of the Winter War. Although it is difficult to call this 3D space a diorama in the classical sense.
Those entering the premises find themselves on a “battlefield”, one edge of which is occupied by Soviet positions, and the other by Finnish ones. The lion's share of weapons, uniforms and items was found at the site of real battles. Artfully made mannequins look like living soldiers.
Chocolate Museum
“Vyborg in chocolate” – this is how you can call the exposition of the complex, which occupies a former powder magazine on Sturma Street. The building itself is already a historical value. The initiator of the creation of the structure, which is part of the fortification system, was the Empress of Russia Anna Ioannovna. It was she who ordered the erection of defensive bastions, later called the Kronverk of St. Anna.
Here are collected the most interesting city objects made of Belgian chocolate. The exhibition opens with a model of the Vyborg Castle. The popular attraction is located near the Cathedral, the Clock Tower and the Round Tower. The organizers of the exhibition did not ignore the coat of arms, symbol and the first seal of the city.
From such a “sweet” place it is difficult to leave empty-handed. There is a shop on the territory, the counters of which are full of various handmade sweets, gingerbread and snacks. In addition, there is a small cozy cafe where guests are offered to taste tea, coffee or hot chocolate. And those who are not indifferent to the art of confectionery can take part in a master class on making a fragrant dessert.
Exhibition Center “Hermitage – Vyborg”
In 1930, a modern three-story building appeared above the walls of Panzerlax, the architect of which was the Finnish architect Uno Werner Ulberg, who lives in Vyborg. The right wing of the structure was occupied by the classrooms of the Children's School of Arts, the left wing – by the Art Museum. The collection of the latter includes paintings by Finnish and Russian painters: H. Simberg, A. Gallen-Kallela, I. Repin, I. Aivazovsky.
As a result of a fire in 1941, the center was badly damaged. The building, restored after the war, was used for needs far from cultural: the premises housed a hostel, and then a branch of the Lengrazhdanproekt Institute. At the beginning of the 21st century, it was decided to return the building to its original appearance and true purpose. In 2003, the Art School was opened here, and seven years later the complex began its work again.
Today the Vyborg Hermitage presents paintings, sculptures, tapestries, national costumes, photographs, ceramics and porcelain. The complex has an educational center equipped with modern projection equipment, festivals, lectures, excursions and temporary exhibitions dedicated to European and Russian art.
House-Museum of V. I. Lenin
On the outskirts of the city, on Rubizhnaya Street, there is a log house built at the end of the 19th century. The inconspicuous building, hidden among many five-story buildings of the same type, is associated with the name of Lenin. It was here that in October 2017 Vladimir Ilyich spent two weeks hiding from the persecution of the Provisional Government.
The leader of the world proletariat was hidden by the members of the Finnish labor movement, the spouses Luyuli Maria and Juhani Haikonen-Latukka. In memory of the days of the underground, a museum was opened in 1958, located in the house of the Haikonen-Latukka family. The basis of its fund is made up of materials dedicated to the owners of the house and the revolutionary activities of Vladimir Ilyich in Vyborg.
In addition to letters, documents and archival photographs, the collection includes personal items, as well as authentic interior items. You can get acquainted with the exhibits of the Lenin House on your own or as part of an excursion group. Employees pay great attention to working with children.
For young visitors, several interactive entertainment and educational programs have been developed, such as “Little Ethnographer”, “Christmas Tomorrow”, “I Want to Learn!”, “Treasures and treasure hunters”.
House of the Merchants' Guild of the Holy Spirit
Photo by: Den&Julia Larsson (drive2.ru/users/h-larsson/)
The honorary title of the oldest civil building is given to a miniature house located on Vyborgskaya Street. A modest snow-white building with a peaked roof, made of raw granite boulders, was built presumably in the middle of the 14th century.
Initially, the building had two floors, but over time, the first floor went underground. After the restoration in 1978, the architectural monument of the Middle Ages acquired a tiled roof. According to archaeologists, the old house was part of a vast estate, which included numerous buildings.
In the 16th century, the building became the property of the merchant guild. A warehouse was equipped in the basement, the first floor was intended for negotiations and making deals. On the second floor, merchants have equipped living rooms.
After the last renovation in 1978, the Guild House became the headquarters of the local kennel club. Currently, there is a tourist information center. In one of the rooms there is a small exposition showing photographic documents and details of a medieval home interior.
Museum-Reserve “Mon Repos Park”
“My peace” – this is how the name of the landscape park (and part-time museum-reserve) is translated from French, which is located on the shore of the Vyborg Bay, on the island of Tverdysh. Overgrown with lush vegetation, an area of 161.4 hectares is part of the geographical region of Fennoscandia – the edge of stone ridges of glacial origin (selg), gigantic boulders and healing springs.
Park “Monrepos” is generous with natural attractions. There is a picturesque Chinese Valley and the Rosenthal Valley, mysterious grottoes, ancient megaliths, a tropiary garden. The creations of human hands harmoniously fit into the unique landscape: openwork arched bridges, the Temple of Neptune, the Broglio Brothers Obelisk, the Column of the Two Emperors, the Hermit's Hut, the Narcissus Pavilion, the Ludwigsburg Chapel and the sculpture of the hero of the Karelian and Finnish epic hero Väinämöinen.
The forest area organically flows into the architectural and historical part of Mon Repos. The dominant feature of the manor and park ensemble created at the end of the 18th century is the Main House, built in 1783 under the first owner of the estate, the Vyborg chief commandant Pyotr Stupishin. The classical building with columns and a quadrangular portico is surrounded by the Library Wing, Park Gate and the Gardener's House.
Medieval city of Svargas
You can get acquainted with the life of the legendary Vikings and learn about the period of military democracy in the capital of the Varangian lands – the medieval city of Svargas, whose name is translated as “Sunny Sky”. This historical and ethnographic center, where all the benefits of civilization are missing, is located 16 km from Vyborg.
The life-size open-air complex recreates the traditional fortress of the Baltic Slavs of the 8th-11th centuries. There is no place for the long lectures of the guide that have set the teeth on edge. Employees who are permanently residing in the territory of Svargas and are in love with their work prove in practice that the study of history can be interesting and exciting.
Ax throwing, archery, as well as a visit to the Varangian cuisine, craft workshops, a mint and a front hall are waiting for guests of the medieval city. Anyone can hold ancient weapons in their hands or try on armor.
Master classes and weekend tours lasting 2.5 hours are especially popular with visitors. Participants of the exciting program will acquire a new Varangian name, visit a forge and merchant auctions, hunt in the Svarlord lands and receive a commemorative letter sealed with a wax seal.
Viking sea outpost
Immersion in history is guaranteed by another open-air ethnographic center located 20 km from Vyborg. The Viking Sea Outpost, or as it is also called, the Museum on the Rock, is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, on the bend of the Polevaya River. Hundreds of years ago, this place was part of the military route “From the Varangians to the Greeks.”
The traditions of wandering northern sailors were recreated by the organizers of the historical and ethnographic center. Zastava Rus is a temporary military settlement of the 10th century. All local buildings – the house of the Vikings, the armory, the forge, the gridiron, the bathhouse, the pagan temple – fully correspond to the architecture of the early Middle Ages.
In an ancient settlement, you need to look appropriately. Therefore, before entering the domain of the Vikings, each guest puts on the clothes of bygone days. Dressed in woolen tunics, fur hats and helmets, the guests of the outpost will test themselves in competitions, sitting by an open fire, tasting a fish pie and berry juice, as well as sailing a wooden drakkar – a 16-meter Viking warship.
Bastion Pancerlaks
The word “Panzerlax” in Swedish means “shell of the bay.” This name suits perfectly this part of the Hornwerk – a complex of structures designed to protect the city from enemy invasions from the sea. Built in 1580, the fortress consisted of three curtain walls (fortress ramparts) and two corner bastions, three tiers of which were equipped with six loopholes.
The Swedish architects Anders Molare and Johan de Messe were responsible for the construction. It was they who came up with the idea, thanks to which the stone walls of one of the bastions, Panzerlax, have survived for four centuries: the basis of the only surviving fragment of the fortress was a 15-meter natural rock. Until the beginning of the 18th century, the building, which was repeatedly reconstructed, performed military engineering functions.
In 1930, a neoclassical and functionalist building was erected on top of the Panzerlax, which housed the School of Art and the Art Museum. Today, the Hermitage-Vyborg exhibition center is open in its halls, and the powder magazine is occupied by the exposition of the Museum of Underwater Archeology.