Scattered across a number of islands just beyond the capital city of Helsinki is one of the most famous and important architectural monuments in Finland, Suomenlinna, a mighty fortress that was built by the Swedes as up until the beginning of the nineteenth century Finland was part of Sweden.

The Crimean War saw the first modern static warfare in history. In 1855 the war extended to the north east of Europe and a number of British-French ships fired on the fortress for three days. More than twenty thousand shots were fired from a thousand allied ordnances. The Suomenlinna Islands suffered terribly and more than half its buildings and military complexes were destroyed.

During the subsequent Finnish War Of Independence a prison was built on one of the islands. After centuries of foreign rule, political turmoil within its neighbouring country brought Finland its much longed for independence. A tomb in the inner courtyard of the main complex is a reminder of the architect who created the remarkable fortress, August Ehrensvärd.

The Suomenlinna fortress buildings are now one of the most visited historical monuments in the Helsinki region.