Medieval castles are associated with knightly tournaments, beautiful ladies, lavish feasts, and bloody battles. Even in the modern age of technology, their ancient gloomy towers continue to attract romantics and lovers of antiquity. There is a common misconception that real castles can only be seen in Europe, but this is not the case.

Located just 120 km from St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful defensive structures, Vyborg Castle. It is the last fully preserved fortress in the European tradition on Russian territory and one of the most atmospheric museums.

The Origin of the Castle in Vyborg

In the late 13th century, the Swedes began the third crusade aimed at the Karelian lands, which were allies of the Grand Duchy of Novgorod. After suppressing the resistance of the local population, the Swedes reached the Gulf of Finland, where they captured and burned a small fortification on a tiny island in the strait.

As a sign of victory, the Swedish crusaders established their outpost on this site, naming the island Castle Island. The entire western Karelia came under Swedish control for almost 400 years.

The History of the Fortress

The new castle was named Vyborg, which in Old Swedish means "holy fortress." It was a powerful fortification with towers and high walls, located on a granite rock surrounded by water. The width of the strait from the mainland side is 25 m, while near Tverdysh Island it reaches a hundred meters.

The natural water barrier and the solid shore, where it was impossible to dig a tunnel, made Vyborg Castle practically impregnable. The area of the island exceeds 20 sq. km, which is enough to accommodate a garrison of up to 6000 people.

The Castle Guards the Borders

The Novgorodians quickly realized the impregnable nature of Vyborg Castle. In 1294, they attempted to besiege it, but unsuccessfully. In 1322, Moscow prince Yuri Danilovich made a new attempt to capture the castle, but this siege, which lasted a month, also ended in failure. A year later, the Orekhovets Treaty was signed, defining the border between Novgorod and Sweden. The Russians attempted to retake the castle several more times, but were only able to do so on June 12 (23), 1710, when Peter I captured the fortress after a two-month siege.

In 1721, the Karelian Isthmus became Russian. After the peace treaty near Vyborg, a complex of curtains and bastions called Annenkron was built on Tverdysh Island to protect against possible Swedish attacks. Today, picturesque views of the main city tower open from its walls.

Interesting Fact:

In 1856, a canal was opened for the passage of ships between Lake Saimaa and Vyborg Bay. To celebrate this event, a fireworks display was organized at the castle, which led to a major fire. After this, the fortress ceased to be used for military purposes and was turned into warehouses.

Gradually, Vyborg Castle lost its significance as a defensive structure. The last military units were stationed in its tower and barracks after the Soviet Union's victory over Finland.

The Prison Castle

Losing its defensive functions, Vyborg Fortress became a prison for a time. Cells were arranged in the barrack buildings of the 17th century and in the tower's cellars. Here, criminals, debtors, and vagrants were held. During the Russo-Swedish War, captured officers were in Vyborg, describing the castle as a "terrible prison."

Among the notable prisoners were the Decembrists. Three groups of prisoners were sent to Vyborg Castle, including Ivan Annenkov, Mikhail Kuechelbecker, Pyotr Mukhanov, and Mikhail Lunin.

The Museum Castle

The idea of creating a museum in the castle emerged as early as the late 19th century. In 1888, by order of Emperor Alexander III, repairs began on the castle. The exterior remained the same, but the internal layout was changed for the future museum.

The main innovation was the granite staircase at the entrance to the tower and the iron spiral staircase inside. This staircase has survived to this day and leads tourists to the observation deck.

In 1964, the castle came under the jurisdiction of the USSR Ministry of Defense, and six years later, a new museum opened there. Since 1999, it has housed the State Museum "Vyborg Castle," and since 2015, a museum-reserve has been established based on it.

In the city center, a monument to the founder of the fortress, Torgils Knutsson, has been erected, which is a cultural heritage site of the Russian Federation.

The Ancient Fortress in a Modern City

Despite its centuries-old age, the museum-castle and its towers harmoniously fit into the atmosphere of Vyborg, making it more picturesque and resonating with the historical architecture of the center.

The most recognizable structure remains the Tower of St. Olaf, named after the Norwegian king revered as the baptizer of Scandinavia. The thickness of the tower's walls ranges from 3.5 to 5.5 m, and its height is 48.5 m. Historians believe that the construction of the castle began with this tower, which belongs to the Old German type.

Initially, the tower was protected by an earthen rampart, which was later replaced by defensive walls with battlements. During this time, four towers were built: the Shoemaker's, New, Watch, and Fire towers. The thickness of the new walls was 2 m, and their height was 6 m. The internal fighting passage was wooden.

In the late 15th century, the Upper Courtyard of the castle underwent reconstruction of living quarters, and the first round tower, Paradise, was built. The name is likely related to a garden that may have existed within the walls.

In the 16th century, when King Gustav Vasa of Sweden visited Vyborg Castle, a new wave of construction began. The shore was reinforced, the Tower of Olaf was completed to seven stories, and gun ports were cut. In the 16th century, bricks were first used for construction.

Later, the castle acquired ponds, a fountain, and stone barracks, and all structures before the bridge were combined into the Governor's House.

The Bridges of Vyborg Castle

The fortress needed a reliable crossing. The entrance was arranged in the Fire Tower, from which the Castle Bridge was thrown, connecting to the Fortress Bridge. The Fortress Bridge connected mainland Vyborg with Tverdysh Island and remains a stationary structure. The new bridge was made drawbridge, complicating the storming of the gates. The bridges and mechanism were restored every 10 years.

Museum Treasures

The museum's exhibitions are diverse and cover a wide range of topics. Here, one can learn about the nature of the Karelian Isthmus, the history of the city and the fortress.

The Knight's Hall, where medieval armor, clothing, and weapons are displayed, is particularly popular.

In the Upper Courtyard of the castle, visitors can feel like residents of the Middle Ages, shoot arrows, see a knightly tournament, and purchase souvenirs.

The castle often hosts events with historical clubs, including performances, conferences, and seminars. The annual festival "Knight's Castle. Reconstruction of the Middle Ages" attracts many spectators. Against the backdrop of ancient walls, excellent photographs are always taken.