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Savonlinna

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Template:Infobox Finnish municipality Savonlinna (Swedish: Nyslott) is a town and a municipality of Template:Infobox Finnish municipality/population count (Error: Invalid time.)[1] inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "New Castle".

History

The city was founded in 1639, based on Olavinlinna 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 the "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.

Transport

This town is 335 kilometres (208 mi) away from the capital of Helsinki by road, some four hours away by train. There is an airport in the town, and the journey to Helsinki takes 40–60 minutes by plane. It is built on a chain of islands located throughout a number of large lakes.

Education

The University of Eastern Finland has a campus in Savonlinna, primarily for teacher education.

Attractions

Olavinlinna is a 15th-century three-tower castle.

The city hosts the famous annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. The operas are performed on a stage built inside the castle. It also has hosted the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships annually since 2000.

Sports

The ice hockey team of Savonlinna, SaPKo or Savonlinnan Pallokerho, is playing in the second tier Mestis. Notable SaPKo alumni include Jarmo Myllys, Ville Leino, Tuukka Rask (Boston Bruins) and Hannu Aravirta. One notable hockey player from the city who did not play for SaPKo is Joonas Rask of HIFK and formerly the Nashville Predators, younger brother of Tuukka.

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.

International relations

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

Twin towns — Sister cities

Savonlinna is twinned with:[2]

References

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference population_count was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Savonlinnan ystävyyskaupungit". savonlinna.fi. Retrieved 26 April 2014.

Media related to Savonlinna at Wikimedia Commons

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