Lieto Old Castle

There has been a fortified hill in Lieto (“Liedon Vanhalinna”) from the prehistoric age. According to excavations, the castle has been in use in the Late Bronze Age (1500-500 BC), in Middle Iron Age (500-700 AD, contested) and in the Middle Ages up to the end of the 14th century, when it was replaced by the "new castle" in Turku harbour.

During the first crusade (ca. 1155) to Finland Swedish army fought heavy battles against pagan Finnish people to conquer Lieto castle hill. After the victory Swedish fortified hill with stone and brick walls to defence the new city of Turku and christianity against Finnish and Novgorodians. There were several buildings, outer walls and a watch tower in the hill. When the Turku castle was completed Lieto castle lost the military value and was left to decay. The latest record of the existing castle date from the year 1438.

In the 1956 private landowners donated Lieto hill to the University of Turku, which has used hill for the archeological training. Nowadays there are some few ruins left of castle walls and buildings.

Address

Vanha Härkätie 128-294, Lieto, Finland

Details

Founded: ca. 1000-1370
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Finland
Historical period: Iron Age (Finland)