Turku Castle is a monument of Finnish history situated in the city of Turku in Finland. Together with Turku Cathedral, the castle is one of the oldest buildings still in use in Finland. Turku Castle is the largest surviving medieval building in Finland. It stands as a national monument, on the banks of the Aura River, as it has done since the 14th century.
Many accidents have assailed the castle,
especially numerous sieges. In 1614, when King Gustav II Adolf visited
the castle, a tremendous fire destroyed the wooden structure of the main
castle almost completely. After this the main castle was abandoned and used
partly as a store, partly just stood empty. A new accident beset the castle in
the summer of 1941 soon after the Continuation War had begun when an
incendiary bomb hit the main castle.
The renovation of the castle, which
was begun before the Second World War and interrupted by Finland's two wars
with the Soviet Union, was completed in 1987. The castle was handed over to its
users completely restored on 12 October 1993. The building is owned and
maintained by the Finnish state and is entrusted to the use of the city of
Turku. The castle functions in its entirety as a historical museum as part of
the Turku provincial museum. In the main part of the castle are banquet rooms
for the city of Turku, a church for the local congregation and also restaurants
in both the main castle and the bailey. Today the castle is once more
experiencing a heyday as it has achieved the status of being one of Finland's
most visited museums. My friend Pia
sent me this card.
