Sights Of Helsinki

The Lutheran Cathedral, located on the north side, dominates the Square. Engel drafted his first plans for the Cathedral as early as 1818, and he continued working on it until his death. After many complications in the planning process, construction of the church began in 1830 but it was not ready to be consecrated until 1852.

A two-staged competition was arranged by the Sibelius society, founded in 1957, for a memorial to the composer. The second stage was taken by Eila Hiltunen's entry `Passio Musicae'. The competition gained immense publicity; the conflict between the supporters of abstract and figurative art was in the air, but it was solved by adding Sibelius' bust to Hiltunen's work.

Suomenlinna is known as an avant-garde of culture, the influence of which has affected the cultural life throughout Finland. The arts, music and theater have especially flourished. The first artist was the planner of the fortress himself, Augustin Ehrensvard.

Architect C.L. Engel 1824 (1826) The Old Church is a basilica-type of church which, however, due to its central open tower and projections from the central hall, rather resembles a cruciform church. The church was originally intended to be temporary, until the city's future cathedral was completed.

The Burgher’s House is the oldest wooden building standing in its original place in inner-city Helsinki. It was built in 1818 for Kristina Wort, a seaman’s widow. At that time the building had a hipped roof and was painted with red ochre. The yard building, which has been used as a sauna, a bake house and an apartment, also dates from the early 19th century.

The house of merchant Johan Sederholm at the corner of the Senate Square is the oldest building in Helsinki city centre. The stone house, built in 1757, was in its time the most impressive private home in Helsinki. It was probably designed by the German-born master builder Samuel Berner.