Ruotsinsalmi Sea Fortress, Kotka, Finland

Ruotsinsalmi fortress was built by Russians in 1790-1796. It was part of the South-Eastern Finland fortification system which was planned to defence St. Petersburg. The sea fortress was located to islands in front of the city of Kotka and Kyminlinna fortress. It contained three main strongholds (Fort Katarina, Fort Elisabeth and Fort Slava) and several redoubts and artillery batteries.

Ruotsinsalmi fortress lost its original defensive value only couple of years later, when rest areas of Finland were joined to Russia after the Finnish War (1808-1809). It was disbanded in the 1830's and during the Crimean war (1855) Anglo-French fleet destroyed the empty fortress permanently.

Today individual remnants of fortresses can still be found for instance beside Catherine’s path and on the island of Tiutinen. Also Fort Elisabeth's embankments have been renovated in recent years. The island is easily accessible by regular boat services in the summer.

Wieskirche

The Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the municipality of Steingaden.

The sanctuary of Wies is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, and is a perfect masterpiece of Rococo art and creative genius, as well as an exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.

The hamlet of Wies, in 1738, is said to have been the setting of a miracle in which tears were seen on a simple wooden figure of Christ mounted on a column that was no longer venerated by the Premonstratensian monks of the Abbey. A wooden chapel constructed in the fields housed the miraculous statue for some time. However, pilgrims from Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and even Italy became so numerous that the Abbot of the Premonstratensians of Steingaden decided to construct a splendid sanctuary.

Елена Сова (4 years ago)

Konstantin Shihov (6 years ago)

Aisa Cayat (6 years ago)
Very nice park. Relaxing.. Q

Степан Лукашенко (6 years ago)
The fort has been restored, but nevertheless the place is very beautiful, near the park, it’s definitely worth a walk!

Jarkko Juhani Törmänen (7 years ago)

Ruotsinsalmi Sea Fortress

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Wieskirche