Savonlinna

Municipality in Southern Savonia, Finland

Town in Southern Savonia, Finland

Savonlinna

Nyslott

Town

Savonlinnan kaupunki
Nyslotts stad

Coat of arms

Nickname:

Capital of Saimaa[1]

Location of Savonlinna in Finland

Coordinates: 61°52′05″N 028°53′10″E﻿ / ﻿61.86806°N 28.88611°E﻿ / 61.86806; 28.88611
Country|  Finland
Region| Southern Savonia
Sub-region| Savonlinna sub-region
Charter| 1639
Government

• Town manager| Janne Laine
Area

(2018-01-01)[2]

• Total| 3,597.70 km2 (1,389.08 sq mi)
• Land| 2,237.87 km2 (864.05 sq mi)
• Water| 762.62 km2 (294.45 sq mi)
• Rank| 27th largest in Finland
Population

(2023-12-31)[3]

• Total| 31,842
• Rank| 36th largest in Finland
• Density| 14.23/km2 (36.9/sq mi)
Population by native language

[4]

• Finnish| 95.5% (official)
• Swedish| 0.1%
• Others| 4.4%
Population by age

[5]

• 0 to 14| 11.6%
• 15 to 64| 55.6%
• 65 or older| 32.8%
Time zone| UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website| www.savonlinna.fi/en/

Savonlinna (UK: /ˌsɑːvɒnˈlɪnə/,[7] Finnish: [ˈsɑʋonˌlinːɑ], lit. 'Castle of Savonia'; Swedish: Nyslott, lit. 'New Castle') is a town in Finland, located in the eastern interior of the country. It lies in the Finnish Lakeland, the South Savo region. The population of Savonlinna is approximately 32,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 39,000. It is the 36th most populous municipality in Finland.

Savonlinna is located in the heart of the Saimaa Lakeland, which is why it is also known as the "Capital of Saimaa".[1] Together with Mikkeli, they are the two largest towns in the South Savo region and both are centres of the region's hospital districts. Savonlinna enclaves the municipality of Enonkoski.

Savonlinna is internationally known for its medieval St. Olaf's Castle and the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival.

## History[edit]

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|

Olavinlinna is a 15th-century three-tower castle. Illustration in Finland framstäldt i teckningar edited by Zacharias Topelius and published 1845–1852.

The city was founded in 1639, based on Olavinlinna castle (St. Olaf's Castle). The castle was founded by Erik Axelsson Tott in 1475 in an effort to protect Savonia and to control the unstable border between the Kingdom of Sweden and its Russian adversary. During the Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743), the castle was captured by Field-Marshal Peter Lacy. It was held by Russia between 1743 and 1812, when it was granted back to Finland as a part of "Old Finland".

In 1973 the municipality of Sääminki was consolidated with Savonlinna. In the beginning of year 2009 the municipality of Savonranta and a 31.24 km2 (12.06 sq mi) land strip from Enonkoski between Savonlinna and Savonranta were consolidated with Savonlinna. In the beginning of the year 2013, the municipalities of Kerimäki and Punkaharju were consolidated with Savonlinna.

## Attractions[edit]

The most notable attraction in Savonlinna is the Olavinlinna castle, a 15th-century castle built on an island. Near the castle is also the Savonlinna regional museum. Some other attractions include the forest museum Lusto in the village of Punkaharju, and the Kerimäki Church in the neighboring village of Kerimäki, which is the largest wooden church in the world.

Savonlinna hosts the famous annual Savonlinna Opera Festival, which was held first time in 1912.[8] The operas are performed on a stage built inside the Olavinlinna castle. The city has also hosted the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships since 2000.

* Savonlinna Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran Church

* Kerimäki Church is the biggest wooden church in the world.

* Savonlinna Provincial Museum

* Lusto is a national forest museum is located in Punkaharju

* Punkaharju Ridge nature reserve

## Climate[edit]

Climate data for Savonlinna Punkaharju Laukansaari (1991–2020, extremes 1959–present)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 6.9
(44.4)  | 8.7
(47.7)  | 14.1
(57.4)  | 22.5
(72.5)  | 28.9
(84.0)  | 32.8
(91.0)  | 32.6
(90.7)  | 32.3
(90.1)  | 27.5
(81.5)  | 18.3
(64.9)  | 11.7
(53.1)  | 8.9
(48.0)  | 32.8
(91.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | −4.5
(23.9)  | −4.4
(24.1)  | 0.9
(33.6)  | 7.3
(45.1)  | 14.6
(58.3)  | 19.3
(66.7)  | 22.0
(71.6)  | 19.9
(67.8)  | 14.1
(57.4)  | 7.0
(44.6)  | 1.4
(34.5)  | −2.2
(28.0)  | 8.0
(46.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | −7.4
(18.7)  | −7.7
(18.1)  | −3.3
(26.1)  | 2.6
(36.7)  | 9.4
(48.9)  | 14.5
(58.1)  | 17.3
(63.1)  | 15.5
(59.9)  | 10.5
(50.9)  | 4.5
(40.1)  | −0.6
(30.9)  | −4.5
(23.9)  | 4.2
(39.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | −10.6
(12.9)  | −11.3
(11.7)  | −7.5
(18.5)  | −1.7
(28.9)  | 4.4
(39.9)  | 10.0
(50.0)  | 13.3
(55.9)  | 12.0
(53.6)  | 7.5
(45.5)  | 2.3
(36.1)  | −2.5
(27.5)  | −7.2
(19.0)  | 0.7
(33.3)
Record low °C (°F)  | −40.2
(−40.4)  | −38.0
(−36.4)  | −33.2
(−27.8)  | −22.6
(−8.7)  | −10.2
(13.6)  | −0.5
(31.1)  | 4.7
(40.5)  | −0.3
(31.5)  | −4.4
(24.1)  | −11.3
(11.7)  | −25.9
(−14.6)  | −36.0
(−32.8)  | −40.2
(−40.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 42
(1.7)  | 34
(1.3)  | 35
(1.4)  | 29
(1.1)  | 42
(1.7)  | 62
(2.4)  | 69
(2.7)  | 78
(3.1)  | 62
(2.4)  | 62
(2.4)  | 52
(2.0)  | 52
(2.0)  | 619
(24.4)
Average precipitation days  | 11  | 10  | 9  | 7  | 8  | 10  | 10  | 10  | 10  | 12  | 12  | 12  | 121
Source 1: FMI normals 1991-2020[9]
Source 2: Record highs and lows 1959- present[10]

## Sports[edit]

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|

The ice hockey team of Savonlinna, SaPKo or Savonlinnan Pallokerho, is playing in the second tier Mestis.

The top-tier volleyball team Saimaa Volley plays some of its home matches in Savonlinna. The football team Savonlinnan Työväen Palloseura (STPS), is playing in Kolmonen, the fourth tier.

## Transport[edit]

Savonlinna Airport

Savonlinna is located 104 kilometres (65 mi) east of Mikkeli, 133 kilometres (83 mi) west of Joensuu and 159 kilometres (99 mi) south of Kuopio. It is also 335 kilometres (208 mi) from the capital city of Helsinki by road, and some four hours away by train. Flights from Savonlinna Airport to Helsinki take 40–60 minutes.

## Education[edit]

South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences has a campus in Savonlinna, teaching healthcare as well as process technologies. Research and development facilities include laboratories for wood processing and electronics.[11] University of Eastern Finland had a campus in Savonlinna, primarily for teacher education. The campus was shut down in 2018.[12]

There are two high schools in Savonlinna. One of these high schools is specialized in art subjects, which when it started its operation in 1967 was the first specialized high school in Finland as well as in all of the Nordic countries.[13]

## International relations[edit]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland

### Twin towns — Sister cities[edit]

Savonlinna is twinned with:[14]

* Detmold, Germany
* Kalmar, Sweden
* Torzhok, Russia
* Budavár (Budapest), Hungary

In addition, there is non-governmental cooperation with the following cities:[14]

* Árborg, Iceland
* Arendal, Norway
* Silkeborg, Denmark

## Notable people[edit]

* Hannu Aravirta, former professional hockey forward, coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien
* Arto Heiskanen, professional hockey left winger
* Kari Hietalahti, actor
* Ere Kokkonen, film director and screenwriter
* Hanna Kosonen, politician and ski-orienteer
* Erik Laxmann, explorer and natural scientist
* Ville Leino, former professional hockey forward
* Petri Matikainen, ice hockey coach
* Jarmo Myllys, former professional hockey goaltender, member of the 1988, 1994 and 1998 Finnish Olympic ice hockey teams
* Pasha Pozdniakova, Finnish-Russian Playboy model and social media influencer[15][16]
* Joonas Rask, professional hockey forward for HIFK
* Tuukka Rask, former professional hockey goaltender, member of the 2014 Finnish Olympic ice hockey team
* Heikki Silvennoinen, actor and musician
* Pekka Tirkkonen, ice hockey coach

## See also[edit]

* Enonkoski
* St. Olaf's Castle
* Savonia (historical province)
* Savonlinna Opera Festival
* Punkaharju Ridge

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Seura: Saimaan pääkaupunki – ainutlaatuinen Savonlinna (in Finnish)
2. ^ "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
3. ^ "Immigration record high in Finland in 2023". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
4. ^ "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
5. ^ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
6. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
7. ^ "Savonlinna". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
8. ^ Symington, Andy (1 April 2009). Lonely Planet Finland. Lonely Planet. p. 136\. ISBN 978-1-74104-771-4. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
9. ^ "FMI normals 1991-2020" (PDF). fmi.fi. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
10. ^ "FMI open data". FMI. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
11. ^ "Savonlinna Campus".
12. ^ "History". Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
13. ^ "Historian lehdiltä « Savonlinnan Taidelukio". www.taidelukio.fi. Archived from the original on 2013-06-30.
14. ^ a b "Savonlinnan ystävyyskaupungit". savonlinna.fi. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
15. ^ "Pasha Pozdniakova palasi Savonlinnaan – loksautti leuat torilla". Stara (in Finnish). 24 May 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
16. ^ Salminen, Veera (31 July 2022). "Savonlinnalainen malli Pasha Pozdniakova tienaa työllään kymppitonneja kuukaudessa ja haaveilee laulajan urasta – "Katsotaan, jos musta tulee toinen Beyoncé", hän vitsailee". Itä-Savo (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 October 2022.

## External links[edit]

Media related to Savonlinna at Wikimedia Commons

* Town of Savonlinna – Official site
* Visit Savonlinna official tourism site
* Savonlinna travel guide from Wikivoyage
* World66 – Open source travel guide
* Map of Savonlinna

Places adjacent to Savonlinna

| Varkaus (North Savo) | Heinävesi (North Karelia) | Liperi (North Karelia)

|
|

|  |
Rantasalmi
Sulkava |

Savonlinna
(surrounds Enonkoski)

| Rääkkylä (North Karelia)
Kitee (North Karelia)
|  |
| Ruokolahti (South Karelia) | Parikkala (South Karelia)

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities of South Savo

Municipalities|

* Enonkoski
* Hirvensalmi
* Juva
* Kangasniemi
* Mikkeli
* Mäntyharju
* Pertunmaa
* Pieksämäki
* Puumala
* Rantasalmi
* Savonlinna
* Sulkava

Former municipalities|

* Anttola
* Haukivuori
* Jäppilä
* Kangaslampi
* Kerimäki
* Mikkelin maalaiskunta
* Pieksämäen maalaiskunta
* Pieksänmaa
* Punkaharju
* Ristiina
* Sääminki
* Savonranta
* Virtasalmi

* South Savo
* Finland

* v
* t
* e

50 most populous municipalities in Finland

|  1.|  Helsinki|  674,963

|
|

2.|  Espoo|  314,152
3.|  Tampere|  255,066
4.|  Vantaa|  247,447
5.|  Oulu|  214,651
6.|  Turku|  201,889
7.|  Jyväskylä|  147,821
8.|  Kuopio|  124,011
9.|  Lahti|  120,700
10.|  Pori|  83,117

|  11.|  Kouvola|  78,876

|
|

12.|  Joensuu|  78,060
13.|  Lappeenranta|  73,016
14.|  Vaasa|  68,969
15.|  Hämeenlinna|  68,303
16.|  Seinäjoki|  66,157
17.|  Rovaniemi|  65,285
18.|  Mikkeli|  51,916
19.|  Porvoo|  51,293
20.|  Salo|  51,097

|  21.|  Kotka|  50,488

|
|

22.|  Kokkola|  48,299
23.|  Hyvinkää|  46,903
24.|  Järvenpää|  46,475
25.|  Lohja|  45,654
26.|  Nurmijärvi|  44,773
27.|  Tuusula|  41,334
28.|  Kirkkonummi|  41,160
29.|  Rauma|  38,837
30.|  Kerava|  38,227

|  31.|  Kajaani|  36,492

|
|

32.|  Kaarina|  36,335
33.|  Nokia|  35,652
34.|  Ylöjärvi|  33,680
35.|  Kangasala|  33,478
36.|  Savonlinna|  31,842
37.|  Vihti|  28,812
38.|  Riihimäki|  28,482
39.|  Raseborg|  27,211
40.|  Raisio|  25,336

|  41.|  Imatra|  24,919

|
|

42.|  Lempäälä|  24,703
43.|  Raahe|  23,794
44.|  Sastamala|  23,514
45.|  Hollola|  22,887
46.|  Sipoo|  22,590
47.|  Siilinjärvi|  21,300
48.|  Tornio|  21,015
49.|  Mäntsälä|  20,950
50.|  Pirkkala|  20,762

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
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