Turku Castle

Turku, Finland

Turku castle is a national monument and one the most remarkable medieval castles in Finland. It's also one of the largest existing castles in Scandinavia. A history of Turku castle begins from the year 1280. The Swedish conquerors of Finland intended it originally as a military fortress.

During 15th and 16th centuries its defences were strengthened and living quarters were added. The castle served as a bastion and administrative centre in Finland. It was also a residence for kings of Sweden, when they visited in Finland. During the struggles for power of Sweden in 14th and 15th centuries Turku castle was several times under siege. Probably the longest one occured in 1364-65, when German lord Albrecht von Mecklenburg besieged it over eight months before Swedish troops surrounded.

The heyday of Turku Castle was in 1556-1563, when King John III of Sweden lived there. During this castle was enhanced to Renaissance fashioned living palace. John III married Polish princess Catherine Jagellon who also lived in Turku short period in 1562-1563. 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. In the 19th century castle was used as a prison. The last accident beset the castle in the summer of 1941 soon after the Continuation War had begun when an incendiary bomb hit the main castle.

Today Turku castle is Finland's most visited museum, with attendance reaching 200,000 in some years. In addition, many of the larger rooms are used for municipal functions.

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Address

Linnankatu 80, Turku, Finland
See all sites in Turku

Details

Founded: 1280
Category: Castles and fortifications in Finland
Historical period: Middle Ages (Finland)

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Björn Roger Felgner (3 years ago)
Very interesting castle. The interior design is contemporary and the ticket price is okay for the size. Interesting insight into the Middle Ages of Finland. There were a few families with small children on site, so it was certainly well suited for children. I don't recommended buying tickets in advance, cause there weren't lots of visitors.
Stefania (3 years ago)
We visited here on a weekend. We arrived a bit last minute, and didn’t have enough time to see all of the castle. There weren’t many guests left. Us and two other groups. Nevertheless, the castle is well preserved and I really liked the staff; Knowledgeable, polite and with a positive attitude. I advise to definitely have at least 2 hours of time, so you can relax and enjoy the place in peace. The tickets for adults are 12€, kids (7-15) 5€, under 7 are free. There’s also special family tickets etc, you can ask at the front desk. You may also use the museum card. If you’re a wheelchair user or have trouble walking, some areas may be impossible for you to access, while others a bit hard. There seems to be an elevator, which you can use to get to some parts, so not completely inaccessible.
Ekaterina Vsemirnova (3 years ago)
Outside it is visually stunning, but though they claim it is dated back to 1280, the truth is, they remade virtually everything inside, with lots of craftmanship and skills in woodwork. The result is: it is not authentic anymore. I am based in the UK, and the local castles are breathing history at you. In case of Turun Linna it is a totally different concept of preserving heritage. It is used to host a very impressive museum and I enjoyed it very much, but it feels new. Still, highly recommended.
Giang Bùi Hậu (3 years ago)
Great place to get to know about history of the castle and the city. Absolutely love its historic atmosphere and the detailed guidance on the signs. I could easily wandered around designed 'tours' without a guide person. The exhibitions were amazing with lots of items displayed along with interesting notes about them. Just 3-km walk along Aura river to get there from the Cathedral. Highly recommend!!! (Idk why but on the day I got there, there were many families with small kids running around ?, so probably it can be a nice place for family too)
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The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.