Hamina Attractions
Post code: SF-49400
Telephone code: 5
Hamina (Swedish Fredrikshamn), situated on a peninsula in the bay of Vehkalahti, in the Gulf of Finland, is one of Finland's leading exporting ports (timber products).
The town, founded in the 14th century, received its municipal charter in 1653, and was given the name of Fredrikshamn by King Frederick I of Sweden in 1723; the name Hamina (derived from the Swedish hamn, "harbor") came later. Here in 1809 was signed the treaty under which Sweden ceded the whole of Finland to Russia - though in 1812 the Tsar returned part of the territory to Finland.
Some of the more important sights in Hamina include several churches from the 17th to 18th century, the town hall and town museum, and a fortress built in the 18th century.
Telephone code: 5
Hamina (Swedish Fredrikshamn), situated on a peninsula in the bay of Vehkalahti, in the Gulf of Finland, is one of Finland's leading exporting ports (timber products).
The town, founded in the 14th century, received its municipal charter in 1653, and was given the name of Fredrikshamn by King Frederick I of Sweden in 1723; the name Hamina (derived from the Swedish hamn, "harbor") came later. Here in 1809 was signed the treaty under which Sweden ceded the whole of Finland to Russia - though in 1812 the Tsar returned part of the territory to Finland.
Some of the more important sights in Hamina include several churches from the 17th to 18th century, the town hall and town museum, and a fortress built in the 18th century.
Flag Tower
In the Hamina market square, to the west, is the octagonal Flag Tower (now housing a small museum), a remnant of the town's defenses (1790).
Karhula, Finland
(Near Hamina)
Road 7 runs west from Hamina to Helsinki (ca. 150km/95mi). 11km/7mi the road from Kouvola comes in on the right. Ahead can be seen the industrial town of Karhula (pop. 23,000), another 7km/4.5mi down the road. The Sunila cellulose factory and the houses nearby it were built to the design of Alvar Aalto (1936-39 and 1951-54). The Glass Museum is also worth a visit. In the Kymi district is a church from 1850 designed by C. L. Engel.
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Municipal Museum
Hamina's Municipal Museum, at Kadettikoulunkatu 2, occupies the building in which the Empress Catherine of Russia and Gustavus III of Sweden negotiated a treaty in 1783.
Hours
January 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
September 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 17:00 |
Town Hall
In the center of Hamina square stands the Town Hall, originally built in 1796 but altered, with the addition of a tower, by C. L. Engel in 1840. Also in the town center are the Lutheran church (1843; in the gardens, a monument commemorating the treaty of 1809) and the Orthodox church (1837), a circular building with a dome.
Town Square
The central feature of Hamina is an octagonal square, laid out in 1722 to the design of Axel Löwen, with eight streets radiating from it, linked by two outer rings of streets.
Vaalimaa
From Hamina it is 43km/27mi to the Russian frontier and the crossing point of Vaalimaa, 261km/162mi to St Petersburg (visa required).
Vehkalahti
In the old village of Vehkalahti, the original nucleus of Hamina, is a fine medieval church, restored by C. L. Engel in 1823.
Vyborg - Russia, Finland
(Near Hamina)
To the east of Hamina is the crossing point of Vaalimaa on the Russian frontier. Some 100km/60mi from Hamina is Vyborg (Finnish Viipuri, Swedish Viborg), now Russian but formerly the chief town of Finnish Karelia.
Highlights include Vyborg Castle started in the 13th century, Rathaus Tower and the Round Tower from the 16th century, and Olaf's Tower.
Highlights include Vyborg Castle started in the 13th century, Rathaus Tower and the Round Tower from the 16th century, and Olaf's Tower.
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