The Northernmost Stone Guardian
Rising from the dark, rushing waters of the Kyrönsalmi Strait in the Finnish Lakeland, Olavinlinna (St. Olaf's Castle) is a sight of rugged, imposing beauty. It holds the distinction of being the northernmost medieval stone fortress still standing in the world. With its three massive round towers and sturdy grey walls, it looks exactly as a fortress should: impregnable, austere, and deeply rooted in the history of the North. Unlike the ornamental palaces of Central Europe, Olavinlinna was built for one purpose: war. It stood for centuries on the volatile border between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Grand Duchy of Moscow (later Russia), witnessing endless sieges, skirmishes, and shifts in power.
Today, the cannon smoke has cleared, replaced by the soaring arias of the world-renowned Savonlinna Opera Festival. The castle has transformed from a symbol of border conflict into Finland's premier cultural stage, where high art meets medieval stone.
History: A Castle on the Fault Line
The foundation of Olavinlinna was a bold geopolitical move. In 1475, Erik Axelsson Tott, a Danish-born knight and regent of Sweden, decided to fortify the unstable eastern border of the Swedish realm. He chose a small rocky island in the strong currents of the Kyrönsalmi strait, a location that made the castle difficult to approach and impossible to mine (tunnel under). He named the fortress Olofsborg (in Swedish) after St. Olaf, the patron saint of knights and of Norway.
Building the castle was a dangerous task. The Russians considered this territory theirs and constantly harassed the stonemasons. The workers had to be protected by armed guards as they mixed mortar and hauled stones. This violent birth set the tone for the castle's existence. It was besieged by the Russians in 1495 and 1496, and again during the Great Northern War in the early 18th century. It finally capitulated to the Russians in 1714, was returned to Sweden, and then lost again in 1743. For nearly a century, it was a Russian garrison (renamed *Neyshlot*) until Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy under Russia in 1809. The castle lost its military significance and served briefly as a prison before being turned into a museum.
Architecture: Adapted for Artillery
Olavinlinna is a prime example of the transition from medieval defense to artillery fortification. The original castle had three main towers in the keep and two more in the outer bailey. Today, three remain: the Church Tower (Kirkkotorni), the Bell Tower (Kellotorni), and the Kijl Tower (Kijlin torni). The other two, the St. Erik's Tower and the Thick Tower, were destroyed or exploded (in a gunpowder accident) and were replaced by thick bastions better suited for mounting heavy cannons.
The Towers and Walls
The towers are round, a design choice intended to deflect cannonballs. The walls are built of local granite and are exceptionally thick. Inside the towers, visitors can see the evolution of defensive technology, from arrow slits to gun ports. The Church Tower, as the name suggests, houses a small chapel that served the garrison, a reminder that faith and war went hand in hand.
The Suvorov Channels
During the Russian period in the late 18th century, the famous General Alexander Suvorov supervised the strengthening of the defenses. He built a system of canals (the Suvorov channels) around the castle to facilitate the movement of the Russian galley fleet, parts of which are still visible in the surrounding landscape.
The Savonlinna Opera Festival
The modern fame of Olavinlinna rests on its acoustics and atmosphere. In 1912, the Finnish soprano Aino Ackté recognized the romantic potential of the castle ruins and organized the first opera festival. After a hiatus due to wars and economic depression, the festival was revived in 1967. Every July, the main courtyard is covered by a massive canopy to protect the audience from the unpredictable Finnish weather. The combination of the long Nordic twilight, the medieval stone walls, and the music of Verdi or Wagner creates a magical experience that draws opera lovers from across the globe.
Legends: The Maiden and the Rowan Tree
The most famous legend of Olavinlinna is the tragic story of the Finnish Maiden. The tale goes that the daughter of the castle commandant fell in love with a Russian officer during a time of siege. She planned to meet him secretly and open a gate for him. However, her treachery was discovered. To punish her, her father had her walled up alive in the castle courtyard.
Years later, a beautiful white rowan tree began to grow from the spot where she was entombed (some versions say from the wall itself). The tree’s white flowers symbolized her innocence (suggesting she only wanted peace/love, not betrayal) and its red berries represented her blood. The story is a staple of local folklore, symbolizing the human cost of the border wars. Although the original tree is gone, the legend persists.
Another story tells of a black ram that lived in the castle. During a siege, the ram climbed onto the battlements. To the starving Russians below, the sight of a fat animal suggested the defenders had plenty of food, disheartening them. In another version, the ram was boiled in tar and thrown from the walls, creating a terrifying noise that scared the enemy away. A statue of the Black Ram stands on a nearby islet today.
Visitor Information
Getting There
Olavinlinna is located in the town of Savonlinna, about a 4-hour train ride or drive from Helsinki. The castle is on an island connected to the mainland by a pontoon bridge (formerly a swing bridge). The walk from the Savonlinna market square along the lakeshore is scenic and takes about 15 minutes.
Tours and Accessibility
The castle is open daily year-round, with extended hours in the summer. Visitors can explore the lower courtyards and the museum exhibits independently, but the towers and upper levels are accessible only by guided tour (included in the ticket price). Tours are available in Finnish, English, Swedish, German, and Russian. Be aware that the castle has many steep, uneven stairs and narrow passages, so it is not fully accessible for those with mobility issues.
Facilities
There is a small museum inside the castle displaying artifacts found during excavations, including jewelry, weapons, and toys. The castle also houses a restaurant, Linnantupa, where you can eat lunch in a hall that once served the garrison troops.