The Mysterious Medieval Castle of Vyborg

The history of Vyborg's founding goes back to the 13th century. It is believed that the town was founded by the Swedish regent Torgils Knutsson, although some sources indicate the settlement may have arisen even earlier. The main attraction of the town is Vyborg Castle, located on a small island in the Gulf of Finland. This fortress is a monument of medieval architecture, with a rich history and shrouded in mysteries.

The castle is literally steeped in an aura of mysticism. According to Karelian legends, the castle was built on cursed ground: an ancient grave of a powerful black mage was said to lie there. Medieval chronicles contain eyewitness accounts of encounters with ghosts and spirits. Karelian fishermen, who often saw the castle from the water, used to say that at night deathly lights flicker in the fortress windows. And in 1940 the commander of the 2nd company, Lieutenant Garbuzov, filed a chilling report about one of his soldiers who had seen a man in a hooded cloak with a skeletal face. After several shots, the figure simply dissolved into the air…

Vyborg Castle was built by the Swedes in 1293. The fortress was considered impregnable: in 1294 the people of Nizhny Novgorod unsuccessfully tried to besiege it, and later, in 1322, a military campaign against the Swedes led by Prince Yuri Daniilovich also ended in failure. Only in 1710, after a lengthy siege, were the town and fortress taken by the troops of Peter I, and Vyborg became part of Russia. The architectural ensemble of the castle consists of the Castellum, the Governor's House, the Paradise Tower, the Cobbler's Tower, the Tower of Saint Olaf, arsenals, the smithy yard, the armories (Zeughaus), and the southern and eastern bastions. The famous Tower of Saint Olaf is named after the patronizer of Scandinavia. Its two lower floors, built of granite boulders, have survived from ancient times. The walls of this tower reach up to 4 meters in thickness. In the mid-16th century several more floors were added in brick, making the building octagonal and allowing aimed fire from all sides. The tower burned several times but was fully restored at the end of the 19th century.

The main and eastern wings house the Vyborg Castle Museum. Permanent exhibitions include Swedish Vyborg, Vyborg as part of the Grand Duchy of Finland, Vyborg during the Second World War, and Nature of the Karelian Isthmus. The Swedish Hall displays artifacts found during excavations: weapons, coins, jewelry, as well as furniture and engravings. In the next hall you can see clothing, books, and photographs of the time and even old street name signs. A particularly interesting exhibition is devoted to the nature of the Karelian Isthmus, showcasing the plant and animal life of this picturesque northern region. On the castle grounds there is a pottery workshop and a smithy, recreated in the likeness of old craft workshops. And at the end of August the museum grounds host an annual traditional knightly tournament!

A visit to the island will leave vivid memories. Vyborg Castle is a wonderful vantage point from which you can admire the beauty of the Gulf of Finland. Here you can stroll along the embankment, enjoy the views of northern nature, and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.