Once majestic, Vyborg is today an attraction full of mystery and decadent charm. A "foreign city" on Russian territory, it is a synthesis of Swedish, Finnish, German and Russian cultures that have in turn planted their flags on this small piece of land on the Gulf of Finland facing Russia and Piter. Founded by the Swedes in 1293 on an island as a castle-fortress (which today can be visited as a museum and Olaf Tower), Vyborg, thanks to its strategic location, quickly grew and conquered the surrounding land to which it was connected by bridges. The city thus moved towards the continent. Enriched by the Hanseatic trade and a cosmopolitan city, it was one of the most beautiful cities in the Kingdom of Sweden in the 15th century. After many unsuccessful attempts, it fell into the Russian hands under Peter the Great (1710). During the Soviet-Finnish war in 1944, Vyborg was finally annexed by the Soviet Union. Today, nestled in an exceptional natural setting, this city with its rich historical heritage is experiencing difficult times. Neglected by the State, its buildings are decaying and some are falling into ruin. In 2013, an entire historic district was razed to the ground to make way for new projects, prompting a wave of protests from locals and intellectuals alike. Still very much visited, mainly on sunny days, Vyborg retains a romantic charm of its own. Strolling through its medieval streets, taking part in historical re-enactments, tasting the famous Vyborg cinnamon pretzels or admiring the masterpieces of Scandinavian architecture... This city is a sublime and threatened pearl. In 2016, the government announced a large-scale restoration of cultural monuments and the city of Vyborg as a whole. To date, work has begun on Monrepos Park, St. Olaf's Tower, the Goving Building (which is privately owned), and the Holy Spirit Merchant Guild House. The park will remain open during the work, but many city residents are concerned about the quality of the work and the chaotic felling of historic trees. The restoration work was suspended following the arrest of the deputy minister of culture, Gregory Pirumova, and his conviction for embezzling funds intended for the restoration of monuments. It is to be hoped that his successors will show more probity in the implementation of this heritage preservation project.

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Pictures and images Vyborg (Выборг)

Vyborg. gumbao - Shutterstock.com
Parc Mon Repos à Vyborg. Zviagin Aleksei - Shutterstock.com
Survol de Vyborg. Marina Zezelina - Shutterstock.com
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