Ruins of Svartholm Fortress

Svartholm is the ruins of a fortress near the Gulf of Lovia, in Finland. The fortress, together with the fortress walls, was built by the Swedes, led by Field Marshal Augustin Ehrensward, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. However, construction, which began in 1748, had to be halted due to the Pomeranian War, which was unleashed in 1757.

Back in 1746, the Swedish rulers reasonably assumed that it was urgent to secure the coast and strengthen the defenses. By a general vote it was decided that it was necessary to build two main fortresses, on which the defense mission would be assigned. It was also decided to strengthen the city of Loviisa. It was a powerful construction, in which more than 4500 people took part. In the process of construction, it was found that the soil, which lined the coast, is quite soft and simply can not withstand the weight of the entire building. But at this point, two huge bastions were already erected, later called Ungern and Rosen.

In the postwar period, Svartholm was used as a naval base and prison. In 1937, restoration work began here, the ruins of casemates and fortifications were cleared. In 1990, a historical museum was opened here. It is located in the open air and thanks to its rich history and architecture attracts curious tourists.