Sulkava Hill Fort, Sulkava, Finland

The hill fort is located to the rock hill with high cliffs in Pisamalahti. The hill fort rises about 55 meters above Enovesi lake.

First record of the fort dates back to the year 1561, but it was probably built in the Iron or Middle Ages. According one hypothesis it was built by Carelian people against conquerors from Tavastia (Häme) historical province. There is a 120 meters long and 2-3 meters high stone wall on the top of the hill.

Pisamalahti hill fort is one of the most valuable ancient fortresses in Finland. The hill and the surrounding lake landscape are popular tourist attraction in the Sulkava area.

Address

Linnavuorentie 306, Sulkava, Finland

See all sites in Sulkava

Details

Founded: 1100-1300
Category: Ruins in Finland
Historical period: Iron Age (Finland)

More Information

www.rajupusuwiki.fi
www.wishcats.fi

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Valeria e.g.Smith (3 months ago)
For those who like simple pleasures: a short hike, a bit of exercise (if you decided to climb narrow stairs) and great views from the top. Leftovers of the fort are difficult to identify, but for a nature experience - everything is here. Also, a simple harbor for those arriving by boat is available.

Vadim Babashkin (15 months ago)
Great view. Special experience to be in the spot. We also had a very nice grill lunch. (Shelter, wood, tables, sits included).

Christiane Butlin (15 months ago)
Nice little walkway and fantastic over view from the top.

Chris Kamppi (17 months ago)
Great part of Finnish/Swedish history.

Matti Muhonen (2 years ago)
Amazing rock formation!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Makser

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Derbent Fortress

Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains connecting the Eurasian steppes to the north and the Iranian Plateau to the south. Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BCE. Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan and Iranian kingdoms.

Derbent has archaeological structures over 5,000 years old. As a result of this geographic peculiarity, the city developed between two walls, stretching from the mountains to the sea. These fortifications were continuously employed for a millennium and a half, longer than any other extant fortress in the world.

A traditionally and historically Iranian city, the first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century BC. The site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century BC. Until the 4th century AD, it was part of Caucasian Albania which was a satrap of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the 5th century Derbent functioned as a border fortress and the seat of Sassanid Persians. Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the Silk Route, the fortress was contested by the Khazars in the course of the Khazar-Arab Wars. In 654, Derbent was captured by the Arabs.

The Sassanid fortress does not exist any more, as the famous Derbent fortress as it stands today was built from the 12th century onward. Derbent became a strong military outpost and harbour of the Sassanid empire. During the 5th and 6th centuries, Derbent also became an important center for spreading the Christian faith in the Caucasus.

The site continued to be of great strategic importance until the 19th century. Today the fortifications consist of two parallel defence walls and Naryn-Kala Citadel. The walls are 3.6km long, stretching from the sea up to the mountains. They were built from stone and had 73 defence towers. 9 out of the 14 original gates remain.

In Naryn-Kala Citadel most of the old buildings, including a palace and a church, are now in ruins. It also holds baths and one of the oldest mosques in the former USSR.

In 2003, UNESCO included the old part of Derbent with traditional buildings in the World Heritage List.

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Sulkava Hill Fort