The Leningrad region is rich in names that are unfamiliar to the Russian ear. This is the legacy of the Swedes and Finns, passed down through the centuries. One such place is Trångsund Fortress, as mysterious as its Scandinavian name.

Few have heard of it, and even fewer know where it is located. Only a handful have visited the ruins of its once-majestic walls. It is no wonder that the fortress is shrouded in a mystical aura, and its history is full of legends. Tourists are not brought here, but anyone can come on their own and try to unravel at least one of its secrets.

By the Will of Peter I

The northwestern borders of the Russian Empire were always restless. The Swedes remained the main threat for a long time, constantly attacking border fortresses. Therefore, Tsar Peter I sought to push the enemy further away from St. Petersburg, the new capital of Russia, and to strengthen his position on the islands of the Gulf of Finland.

After capturing the Swedish city of Vyborg, the need arose for a new defensive redoubt. It was decided to build it at the narrowest point of the Trångsund Strait.

Interesting Fact:

The Swedish name Trångsund translates as "narrow strait," which accurately describes one of the three main fairways leading to Vyborg. Its width is only 180 meters.

Thus, by the order of the tsar, the first fortress was laid on these islands. However, it has not survived to this day. Archaeologists have found no trace of the fortification; only its Swedish name has reached us.

The Fortress's Second Birth

The new life of the fort began in 1867. An unconventional approach was chosen for its construction: bastions, batteries, and casemates were carved into the coastal rocks. This long and difficult process promised to pay off, as no wall could compare to the strength of the granite shore. The fortress was reinforced with a moat, and service rooms were hidden under the redoubts. To facilitate quick movement between them, above-ground and underground passages were made in the rocks.

But all efforts proved in vain. The military industry moved towards the development of firearms and artillery. The new fortress quickly became outdated and ineffective.

Although it was still maintained in a combat-ready state, not a single shot was fired from its walls. World War I also bypassed this place.

The First Battle on Foreign Soil

In 1918, the fortress, along with the Vyborg province, passed to Finland and received a new name, Uuras, which translates as "hardworking." The fortifications might have faced a sad end if not for the shallow fairway of the Vyborg port, which prevented deep-draft ships from passing and developing the city as a maritime port.

The Finns decided to develop the Uuras port. In 1926, a railway line was laid to the island, and dredging began to facilitate navigation.

In 1939, the Soviet-Finnish War began, and one of the most desperate battles unfolded on the territory of the fortress. The Finns defended the city, but Soviet troops managed to break their resistance. According to the Moscow Treaty, a significant part of the Vyborg territory returned to Russia.

As part of the Russification, all settlements received new names. Uuras became Petroostrov in memory of Peter I's conquest of Swedish lands. However, in 1948, the city was renamed Vysotsk in honor of machine gunner Kuzma Vysotsky.

For several years, a garrison was stationed at the fortress, but it was later withdrawn. The population of Vysotsk dwindled, the fortress was abandoned, and it was closed.

Nothing is Forgotten

Today, Trångsund is in ruins. Tourists are not brought here, and no restoration work has been carried out. However, those interested in history continue to visit the remnants of the fortress.

Archaeologists and specialists in fortifications note its uniqueness and draw parallels with the Peter and Paul Fortress. The two fortresses even share a common layout. Trångsund is considered the best engineering embodiment of defensive technologies of its time.

What does the fortress surprise us with today?

Trångsund is recognized as a cultural heritage site, but its restoration has not yet begun. In 2021, a sign with indicators and a plaque with a plan of the complex appeared here. Now everyone can explore the structure on their own, but at their own risk.

The first thing tourists notice is the remnants of old walls overgrown with grass and bushes. How many emotions arise when a steep hill turns out to be an ancient bastion hidden underground.

Exploring the Catacombs

The bravest take flashlights and descend into the casemates to explore the fortress from the inside. They always return impressed. The reports are enthusiastic.

The gloomy catacombs leave few indifferent. Imagination in the dark, under the sinister atmosphere, conjures up many eerie stories. This is aided by the mysteriously hanging rusty chains from the ceilings. Legends once circulated about an abandoned prison and secret torture chambers.

But unlike the Peter and Paul Fortress, Trångsund was never a prison. A food storage facility certainly existed here during the Soviet period. Bags of food were hung on chains to protect them from moisture.

A trip to Trångsund is a journey into the past. Besides the fortress ruins, one can see the remnants of a quarry in the forest, where stone was extracted for construction. An old lighthouse has survived by the highway, another attraction.

Through a tunnel, one can reach a platform overlooking the fortress, its moat, walls, and arched gates. However, when traveling underground, one must be cautious. The wooden flooring has rotted, and the walls are crumbling. There is a lot of debris underfoot, although public organizations hold clean-up days.

The Way North

The condition of the site is deplorable. Local historians and historians continue to fight for the preservation of the monument, gathering materials at forums and inviting everyone to see these unique places.

A trip here is not a one-day affair. There are many other attractions. We recommend adding viewing platforms, the Holy Trinity Church, and the ship in Victory Square to your itinerary. Rooms can be booked at the hotel.

From here, it is convenient to head to the Ter coast of the Kola Peninsula and share photos of the monuments of Russian wooden architecture upon returning.