Turku Castle

Turku Castle (Turun Linna) is a massive medieval castle in Turku, Finland, that has served as a fortification, a granary, and a prison in the past. In fact, it is claimed to be Finland's largest and best-preserved medieval structure.

Turku Castle was built around 1280, when Finland, then known as Eastland, was still a part of Sweden. The castle served as a center of administration as well as a means of defense for the area.

Over the ages, Turku Castle would be enlarged and strengthened, until reaching a recognizable condition in the 16th century under Gustav Vasa and his son. Though it has been repaired multiple times since then, the structure is still remarkably similar to how it was when it was first built.

Turku Castle was frequently involved in local or regional battles in terms of military action. When it was assaulted by Russian invaders in 1318, it took on a larger international importance. Turku Castle's military importance diminished over time, and it became a prison in the 18th and 19th centuries before becoming a museum of its own and the Turku region's history, a role it continues to serve today.

Turku Castle is now Finland's most visited museum, with an annual attendance of over 200,000 people. Many of the larger rooms are also used for government occasions.

The interesting Sture Church and Nun's Chapel has a collection of medieval wooden religious figures, as well as the King's State Room, the King's and Queen's Halls, and exhibition rooms on the attic floor showcasing highlights from the Museum Centre's collections.

The Bailey's permanent display focuses on the castle's shifting functions as a defensive fortification, a staging point for tax and trade goods, a barracks, and a museum, as well as ordinary life in the castle, its festivals, court, and employees.

Location: Turku, Finland