Russia is interesting not only for its capital cities. Equally valuable are small historical settlements such as Vyborg. Attractions: Mon Repos park, streets and squares of this city are worthy of attention because of their beauty and historical significance. Today, tourists are rediscovering the region. Holidays and various reconstructions are held here, but so far the city has not yet turned into a solid tourist attraction and retains its living soul.
The sights of Vyborg and its environs can be slowly explored in 2-4 days and get real pleasure from contact with such an interesting and ancient history that lives very close by.
The emergence of a settlement
Vyborg, whose history and sights today attract more and more attention from scientists and tourists, arose in 1293, when the Vyborg Castle was erected here by the Swedes. There is a version about an earlier settlement in this place. Allegedly, the Novgorod elder Gostomysl created a city here in honor of his son back in the 9th century. There are archeological finds that prove that back in the Stone Age therewere the sites of ancient people. But the emergence of a permanent settlement for living is recorded only in Swedish documents, so the official date of the emergence of Vyborg is considered to be the end of the 13th century.
Archaeological excavations confirm that even at the beginning of the first millennium, tribes called Karelians lived in this region. Together with the inhabitants of Novgorod, they actively traded with Dutch merchants and representatives of the Hanseatic League, fished. In the area of modern Vyborg there was a warehouse - an ostrogek, which housed the guards who accompanied the goods. The very favorable location of this guard point attracted the Swedes, who erected a stone fortress on Castle Island.
The Swedish period in the life of Vyborg
During the third crusade to the land of the Karelians, at the behest of the Swedish king, a castle-fortress - Vyborg - was erected on Castle Island. Photos of the city, sights and architectural monuments today retain the feeling of power that the building had. This reliable outpost remained impregnable for several centuries, despite the fact that the Novgorodians made repeated attempts to drive the Swedes out of Vyborg. The castle was settled, expanded, and in 1403 the Swedish king granted the settlement the status of a city. The favorable location quickly turned Vyborg into a major center of trade. The city was ruled by a Swedish governor, he had great independence, the city paid flax (tribute) to the king, the rest was controlled by the mayor.
In 1442 at the head of the cityKarl Knutson Bunde stood up and transformed the city in six years. Under him, Vyborg Castle became the most beautiful in Sweden. The mayor added several towers, rooms for knights and receptions, updated the interiors. In 1525, the city passed to Count von Goya, who was related to the King of Sweden. Under him, a large stream of residents from the Hanseatic League poured into the city: from Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck. The city is growing, prettier and richer. Russian troops continue to make attempts to conquer Vyborg, but each time they fail. During the Northern War, Vyborg became the main source of threat to the new capital of Russia - St. Petersburg. Peter the Great in 1706 personally leads the siege of the city, but to no avail. And only in 1710, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the army and navy, Vyborg was taken by Russian troops, and in 1721, by peace agreement, became part of the Russian Empire.
Russian subjugation
Becoming part of Russia, Vyborg becomes the center of the commandant's district and a new Russian port. A number of privileges remain outside the city: Swedish laws continue to work here, residents are allowed to maintain their Lutheran faith, there was no serfdom here. Merchants and the military immediately rushed to the new Russian city. The settlement begins to expand. Petersburg and Vyborg suburbs are being built in it.
The main sights of the city of Vyborg of that period are residential buildings, new parts of the bastion. From 1730 to 1741, active construction was carried out in the city, new parts of the fortress were being built. CostsIt should be noted that the Vyborg fortress never had a chance to test its new fortifications in battle. Perhaps that is why the sights of the city of Vyborg are so well preserved to this day. New buildings, despite the established Russian order, retained European features. Moreover, the architects were mainly Swedes, Germans, Scandinavians. In 1811, the Vyborg Governorate became part of the Principality of Finland. By 1910, more than 80% of the population were Finns.
The city has been experiencing a mixture of ethnic groups for a long time, which is not complete without confrontations and flight, but gradually a special atmosphere has developed here that has always distinguished Vyborg from ordinary provincial towns of Russia. After the Decembrist uprising, several hundred rebels were sent to the Vyborg fortress, which also affected the spirit of the city. In the second half of the 19th century, the railway reached the city, gasification and electrification began. It is experiencing rapid economic growth and is becoming the second largest in the principality.
Vyborg and Finland
In 1917, after the revolution in Russia, Vyborg actively enters into revolutionary transformations. After the declaration of Finland's independence from Russia, the city goes to the new state. He again changes the ethnic composition. The Finnish population now dominates here, while the Russian, German and Swedish population is greatly reduced. But the development of the city continues. Soon the architect O. Meurman created a project to unite the city with the suburbs. This is how Big Vyborg appears. Natural attractions are now part of the city. At this time, the settlement acquiresthe status of the cultural capital of Finland, many sports, cultural, temple facilities are being built here.
Sights of the city of Vyborg of this period still make up its glory: the district archive, the new library, the art museum - all this greatly adorned the settlement.
During World War II
In 1939, the Russian-Finnish war begins, and the city of Vyborg, whose sights are endangered, becomes a battle zone. The active military operations of the Red Army led to the fact that the Karelian Isthmus, together with the city, came under the control of the Soviet Union. In 1941, war returned to Vyborg again, and the Red Army was forced to surrender it to the Finns. Until the year 44, the Karelian Isthmus was occupied by the Finnish armed forces. During fierce fighting on June 20, 1944, Vyborg was liberated. There was a difficult period of recovery. The city of Vyborg, whose sights were badly damaged in World War II, suffered huge material and cultural losses.
Soviet period
At the end of the war, the country begins a long recovery. The same fate befell Vyborg. Photos of the city, sights and architecture were a terrifying sight - most of the settlement lay in ruins. But the authorities and the people are making titanic efforts, and the city begins to revive. In 1947, a new development plan was created, residential areas and industrial enterprises were again built. Streets are renamed in such a way as not to remind of the pastcities. Vyborg acquires features typical of Soviet cities. In the 60s, microdistricts of multi-storey buildings appeared here, buildings of the old fund were restored, and new cultural facilities were erected.
Since the 1950s, the city has become an attraction for tourists, and much has been done to attract them. In 1988, a decision was made to create a state museum-reserve - Mon Repos Park.
Modern Vyborg
The city at the present stage is actively restoring its historical roots, seeking to attract tourists. Relations are being actively established with countries that are historically united with Vyborg - with Sweden, Norway, and Finland. In 1999, UNESCO included the central city library in the list of objects in need of protection and support. In 2000, active restoration work is underway. The city is restoring the historical appearance of many objects, which attracts the public movement of historians. Vyborg regularly hosts festivals of ethnic cultures, large reconstructions of historical events.
Vyborg - a city of sights
The richest history of this settlement has left many traces on its appearance. The sights of the city of Vyborg allow you to see the multi-layered unique culture that has formed here. The influence of Russian, German, Swedish and Finnish culture can be found in the most interesting architectural monuments. The atmosphere of the streets of the old town is reminiscent of medieval times, this feeling is enhanced by a visit toVyborg castle. Of particular interest are natural attractions, unusual sculptural groups and monuments.
Vyborg Castle
The oldest building in the city is the castle, which, despite numerous trials, has been very well preserved. From the walls of the castle offers a beautiful view of Vyborg. Attractions, the addresses of which can be found in any excursion booklet, today allow you to see all the power and talent of Swedish and Russian architects. The fortress walls amaze with the thickness and precision of the masonry, and the surviving towers - Paradise and the Shoemaker - impress with their height and perfection.
The castle houses a real gem - Olaf's tower, almost 50 meters high, its base has been preserved unchanged since the 13th century, the upper tiers were rebuilt in the middle of the 19th century. Also in the castle, you should pay attention to the Commandant's House, where Peter the Great once stayed.
Clock tower
Sights of the city (Vyborg) and a description of their history is a real textbook on the architecture and culture of the country. The clock tower is a bell tower left from the church of Saints Mary and Olaf, built in the 15th century. She miraculously survived during the destruction of the temple in a fire in 1793, and during the hostilities of the Second World War. There is a large stone at the base of the tower, and the clock has been running since the 19th century. This is one of the most beautiful historical buildings in Vyborg.
Natural Attractions
Monrepos Park - the former residence of the Swedish barons - is one of thethe oldest and most beautiful landscape parks in Europe. It is a harmonious combination of grottoes, forests, rocks, waterfalls, lakes. The magnificent Isle of the Dead with a decorative castle is located in the middle of the lake and makes an indelible impression. Of interest is the main house of the manor - a wooden building in the classical style, as well as the Library wing - a rare example of wooden manor architecture. These miraculously preserved buildings from the 18th century are extremely valuable architectural monuments.
In the vicinity of Vyborg there is another natural place worthy of attention - this is Mezhgornoye Maloye Lake. It is an example of harmonious northern nature, and the beauty of the landscape and pristine silence make this place the best place to relax from the bustle of the city. Here you can also have a great time fishing.
Architectural Monuments
Vyborg is also rich in other sights. These include the Round Tower, the same age as the Castle. Her appearance has become a recognizable symbol of the city. The tower was erected in the middle of the 16th century as part of a fortification wall. The diameter of the structure is 20 meters, the thickness of the walls is 4 meters. It is the brainchild of the northern late Gothic, of which there are very few examples in Russia.
The Transfiguration Cathedral is another pride of Vyborg. It crowns the harmonious appearance of the Cathedral Square and is a perfect building in the style of classicism. When designing, the architect N. Lvov tried to follow the principles of A. Palladio in everything, practically copying his buildings. The temple was erected in 1786, but later wasrenovated.
The Church of St. Hyacinth is a Gothic building of the 16th century, which is one of the oldest in the city. The church, nicknamed the Knight's House, served as a temple, a monastic school, and a guest house. Today it belongs to the list of cultural objects protected by the state.
You can also name such sights of the city of Vyborg, the addresses of which are included in every guidebook, such as the architectural complex of Cathedral Square, which was formed at the end of the 18th century, the Vyborg City Hall, erected in the middle of the 17th century in the neo-Renaissance style, Annensky fortifications - fortress walls built by Peter the Great.
How to get there
Vyborg is located north of St. Petersburg, near the Finnish border. The easiest way to get to it is from St. Petersburg. This can be done in several ways:
By car. Distance from St. Petersburg is 130 km.
On the bus. From the bus station "Severny" four times a day a bus leaves for Svetlogorsk, which stops in Vyborg. Buses also run from the Parnas metro station. Travel time is about 2 hours.
On the train. A high-speed train to Vyborg departs from the Finland Station three times a day. Travel time is 1 hour 15 minutes.
