Sveaborg Fortress

The construction of the fortifications at Sveaborg (Fortress of Sweden) began in 1748. The original star fort design was the work of Augustin Ehrensvärd, and it was intended to defend the Swedish territory - Finland was part of Sweden at the time - from any possible Russian attack. The fortress remained in Swedish hands until 1809, when Finland was ceded to Russia under the terms of the Treaty of Fredrikshamn. The Russians maintained and extended the fortifications, and it 1855, during the Crimean War, they were extensively damaged as a result of a two-day long bombardment by an Anglo-French fleet. After the war they fortifications were rebuilt and further extended, and this process of updating and improvement continued until the outbreak of the First World War. When Finland finally gained its independence in 1917, the fortress was renamed Suomenlinna (Fortress of Finland) although it is also referred to as Viapori.

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A general view of the main buildings in the fortress.

A close-up view of some of the buildings in the fortress.

Examples of the different styles of fortification incorporated into the fortress during its continued development.

An example of the Victorian-era armament of the fortress.

An overhead view of the fortifications at Sveaborg.

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© Robert George Cordery (2008)