Historical old Savonlinna
At the feet of Olavinlinna Castle, you can get a feeling of old historical Savonlinna with its wooden houses and old avenues. Savonlinna is built on islands nestled by Olavinlinna castle and Lake Saimaa. The city itself started gaining form slowly towards the end of 1400. During the time that the castle was being built, the area gained a lot of craftspeople, masons and other people who worked in the castle. The community stabilized, and in the year 1639 Pietari Brahe founded the city of Savonlinna. (Photo: Pia Behm)
The old city centre was located on Linnankatu street (“Castle Street”). In the beginning of the 20th century, the street was thought to be so fine with its cobblestones and street lamps that people often called it by another name, Parisian street.
Nowadays Linnankatu is a popular place to live, and a perfect place for visitors to get a feeling of the historical Savonlinna. In the street’s wooden buildings, there are many restaurants, galleries and handicrafts shops. At the end of Linnankatu you will find the Riihisaari museum and crown jewel of Savonlinna, Olavinlinna Castle.
