Etelä-Savo museums - Savonlinna

The Savonlinna Provincial Museum

Olavinlinna

The Suruton Doll & Toy Museum

The Säimen Mill Museum

The Vuokala Museum Mill and Power Plant

Olavinlinna

Address	Enquiries	Open 2012
Museovirasto Olavinlinna FI-57130 Savonlinna	Customer Service: Tel. +358 (0)15 531 164 olavinlinna(at)nba.fi Map	2.1.–31.5. Mon to Fri 10am–4pm Sat to Sun 11am–4pm Ticket sales and the museum shop close at 3:30pm Last guidance starts at 3 pm 1.6.–14.8. daily 10am–6pm Ticket sales and the museum shop close at 5:30pm Last guidance starts at 5 pm On Midsommer 24.6. 10am–3pm 25.6. 12pm–6pm During the Opera Festival After 5:30pm entrance to Olavinlinna only by presenting an opera ticket 15.8.–14.12. Mon to Fri 10am–4pm Sat to Sun 11am–4pm Ticket sales and the museum shop close at 3:30pm Last guidance starts at 3 pm Closed 1.1., 6.–9.4, 1.5., 6.12., 15.–31.12. excluding 15.12., 10am–4pm
Changing exhibitions and events		Admission
15.12.2012 St. Thomas Day Fair is held at the Castle between 10 am and 4 pm		Combined ticket Olavinlinna Castle and Savonlinna Provincial Museum Adults 8 € Children 7–17 years 3 € Combined ticket is not on sale on Mondays between 1 September – 31 May, because Savonlinna Provincial Museum is closed on Mondays during that period Adults 8 € Students, pensioners and groups (over 10 persons) 6 € Children (7–17 years) 4 € Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) 18 € School groups with teacher 2,50 € /person Under 7 years old free of charge There is no entrance fee to the castle on the International Museum Day 18 May On St. Olaf’s Day 29 July the entrance fee to Olavinlinna Castle is 1 €
Links
Olavinlinna Castle Museums and Castles (The National Board of Antiquities)

Olavinlinna, more than 530 years old and located right near downtown Savonlinna, is one of Finland’s most famous historical buildings. It is one of the few medieval buildings still standing in Finland. The castle is owned by the government and the National Board of Antiquities is responsible for it.

Construction on the castle was commenced in 1475 at the behest of the Danish-born knight Erik Akselinpoika Tott. The castle was built in area that Sweden and Novgorod fought over.

The purpose of the castle was to repel Russian attacks and to ensure that the Swedish Crown kept control over the Savo Region. Olavinlinna was the subject of many battles. Russian troops conquered the castle during the Great Northern War in 1714, but the treaty of 1721 saw it returned to Sweden. In 1743, Sweden lost Olavinlinna to the Russians, whereupon it served as a Russian garrison until 1847. After that, it spent a short period of time as a jail. The castle was empty until the end of the 19th century, at which point of time it was damaged in multiple fires.

Olavinlinna has been restored numerous times since the end of the 19th century. The last extensive restoration was launched in 1961 and was completed in 1975 when the castle turned 500. Nowadays, the castle is one of Finland’s most popular attractions and many different events are held there.

Over the centuries, the castle has been built by both Swedes and Russians, which is evident in its varied architecture. The castle is open year round and the entrance fee includes a guided tour.

There is also a castle museum in Olavinlinna that displays objects found in the castle and an Orthodox museum that displays icons and other ecclesiastical artefacts from Finland and Russia. The castle has its own museum store. In 1912, the opera singer Aino Ackté launched the Savonlinna Opera Festival , which has been held annually at Olavinlinna since 1967.