Stay : The King's Road
The King's Highway runs along the southern coast of Finland. This route, which was used by kings and merchants travelling between Bergen in Norway and St. Petersburg in Russia, dates back to the Middle Ages. There are many historical sites along the way. Follow in the footsteps of the king, enter churches and manor houses, stroll through the alleys of old towns..
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
7 days
€€€ - Luxury
Detail of the stay : The King's Road - 7 days
Day 1: Maritime City of Kotka
Steps: Turku, Kotka, Joensuu, Helsinki
Kotka (two and a quarter hours by bus fromHelsinki) is located on the Gulf of Finland, south-east of Helsinki. The centre of this town, founded in 1878, has interesting monuments, such as the town hall on the market square, the imposing St Nicholas Orthodox church and the Sunila Pulp Mill built by the great Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The Isopuisto and Sibelius parks, lungs in the heart of the city, together with the Sapokka gardens, with their small wooden bridges, cascades, waterfalls and fountains will delight romantic souls. Another curiosity is the Tarmo icebreaker, which has been converted into a museum. Kotka is a major maritime city - it is Finland's largest export port - and also boasts a vast archipelago. Embark on a cruise to the fortress islands of Kukouri and Elisabeth, the scene of the Crimean War. Don't miss the fishing village of Kaunissaari ("beautiful island" in Finnish). There is a beautiful view of the city and the archipelago from Mount Patorni or from the Haukkavuori observation tower. End the day with a visit to the Imperial Fishing Lodge of Tsar Alexander III on the banks of the Langinkoski River. A must-see place.
PAVILLON IMPÉRIAL DE LANGINKOSKI / MUSÉE DU BRISE-GLACE TARMO / ÉGLISE ORTHODOXE DE SAINT-NICOLAS
Day 2: Charming town of Loviisa
Half an hour from Kotka, linger in Ruotsinpyhtää. Halfway along the road to Loviisa. Ruotsinpyhtää is a village of old forges (1695) on the Kymijoki River. Loviisa, founded in 1745, is named after one of the queens of the Swedish kingdom. A charming little town on the Gulf of Finland, it is home to three fortresses designed at the time to contain and repel Russian incursions. Shuttles take you to the island fortress Svartholma, built on the same model as the fortress of Suomenlinna in Helsinki. The forts of Rosen and Ungern, close to the city centre, are within easy walking distance. Dinner at the Degerby, housed in a beautiful 17th century building in Loviisa.
Day 3: Porvoo, a picturesque city
Steps: Porvoo, Tammisaari - Ekenäs
Finland's second oldest city, fifty kilometres east of Helsinki, was founded in the first half of the 14th century. The beautiful houses of the old town overlooking the river, the narrow cobbled streets and the cathedral deserve the many tributes of the poets and artists who have lingered here. The national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg, the sculptor Ville Vallgren and the romantic painter Edelfelt all lived in Porvoo, which has not forgotten them by dedicating two museums to them: the Runeberg House and the Edelfelt-Vallgren Historical Museum. The creator of the Moomins, Tove Jansson, also lived on an island in the nearby archipelago. Another curiosity is the Doll and Toy Museum.
Day 4: Helsinki, discovery of the Finnish capital
Steps: Turku, Helsinki, Kuopio
Cruise from Porvoo to Helsinki on the M/S J.L. Runeberg (two and a half hours). A good way to reach the capital through the beautiful Helsinki archipelago. Founded in 1550, Helsinki only became the capital in 1812 at the expense of Turku. Marked by an unusual coexistence of styles and cultures, the capital blends genres. The Senate Square, designed by the Prussian architect Engel, is in the Empire style, while the neoclassical Lutheran cathedral imposes its density and volumes not far from the Russian-inspired Uspenski Orthodox cathedral (1868). Temppeliaukion Kirkko, a surprisingly beautiful church built under the rock, has exceptional acoustics and an absolutely unique interior. On the cultural front, the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, with its resolutely modern architecture, stands not far from the very classicalAteneum, which brings together the greatest masterpieces of Finnish art (Gallèn-Kallela, Edelfelt...). Near the Kiasma, see the Finlandia Palace designed by Alvar Aalto in 1971. The building was the venue for the signing of the Helsinki agreements in 1975. Its Italian marble does not stand up well to winter temperatures, however: it falls apart... When the weather is fine, a visit to the island fortress of Suomenlinna, a World Heritage Site, is a must. Bus boats shuttle between the port (market square) and this superb site. The fortress, built in 1748, is certainly the most representative monument in Helsinki from the Swedish period.
Day 5: Ekenäs, between land and sea
Steps: Tammisaari - Ekenäs
In one of the southernmost cities of the country, sea and land meet on the background of the islands. A walk in the high places of Ekenäs is required: the Snappertuna church, the ruins of old town. Then go to the Découverte Park.
CHÂTEAU DE RASEBORG
Day 6: Stopover in Turku
Steps: Turku
Founded in the 13th century around a large port, Turku has always been an important crossroads between east and west. See its beautiful archipelago, its castle on the river Aura, its medieval cathedral and its old university, which was once the intellectual centre of the country before the capital was moved to Helsinki in 1812. Take time to have lunch on one of the many restaurant boats or to have a drink in an old bank or a disused pharmacy... The day ends with an exciting walk to the Luostarinmäki Open Air Museum.
Day 7: Seaside town of Naantali
Steps: Naantali, Tammisaari - Ekenäs
The small seaside resort of Naantali lies 15 km northwest of Turku. The day can start with a visit to Kultaranta, the summer residence of the President of the Republic. The rose garden has more than a thousand varieties... In another register, the convent of the Brigittines keeps interesting relics. We will cross the old town and its marina to fall back into childhood on the island of the Moomins with all the characters of Tove Jansson. To finish this journey on the King's Road, why not enjoy a massage in one of the most beautiful spa hotels in the Nordic countries. (Return by bus to Helsinki, via Turku, duration two hours and forty minutes).
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