History of Helsinki

Helsinki was originally founded in 1550 by Gustav I Vasa (King of Sweden), as a trading post to compete with the northern Estonian port of Tallin. It was later moved to its present day site in 1640 to bring it closer to the port and to better protect against any approach from the sea.

Russian rule

The city was destroyed in 1713 by the Swedes, who were on retreat from the Russians during the Northern War (1700 to 1721). Fortifications can be seen from around this period (1729), and later in 1748 the Swedes started building the huge fortress of Suomenlinna on an island to the southeast of the city. Sweden eventually succumbed to the Russian forces and Finland was incorporated into the Russian Empire in 1809. Three years later, Helsinki was to become the administrative capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland.

Makings of an imperial city

Helsinki was given a facelift by the ruling Czar and many desirable buildings were constructed which still stand today. Finnish architect Johan Albrecht Ehrenstrm and German Carl Ludwig Engel, were given the job of transforming the city, and many examples are still evident today including the grand Lutheran Cathedral; one of Helsinkis finest landmarks. The Russian Revolution sparked the end of Russian rule in Finland and the city has been the capital of the Finnish Republic since 1917.

Modern Finnish capital

Helsinki continued to prosper after Finlands independence and was the site of the 1952 Olympic Games and has also been the site for many European agreements, thus marking it as a city of importance and culture. The first American-Soviet summit took place in the city in 1990 and it celebrated its 450th anniversary in the year 2000, the same year that Helsinki was designated European City of Culture, while today, it continues to draw in tourists with its beauty and outstanding attractions.