Hamina / Fredrikshamn
Location and history
The city of Hamina (Swedish: Fredrikshamn) is located in southeastern Finland on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. The Finnish capital, Helsinki is 150 kilometres away, and the Russian border is about 30 kilometres away. Hamina dates back to a Swedish settlement founded in the 17th century, when all of Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. A fortress was built on the site of today’s city of Hamina, and the ruling King Fredrik I named it Fredrikshamn after himself. For simplicity, the Finnish residents later shortened the name to Hamina. The treaty making Finland part of Russia was signed in Fredrikshamn in 1809.
BrĂĽcke in der finnischen Stadt Hamina an der Ostsee
Photo: © Niera / Wikimedia.de / Creative Commons 3.0 Unported
Things to see in Hamina
Several churches in particular bear witness to the city’s history. These include its oldest church, St Mary’s Church, which dates back to a predecessor building from the 15th century. Other churches include the Orthodox Church and St John’s Church. The historic town hall, built in 1797, was renovated in the Neoclassical style after the city fire of 1840. The remains of Hamina’s extensive fortifications bear witness to its military past, and some sections are now open to visitors. These include the Central Bastion and four other bastions, which are also used for events. The annual Hamina Tattoo International Military Music Festival attracts thousands of visitors to the city. A signposted trail, known as the Rampart Trail, winds through the extensive fortifications and the centre of Hamina, offering a journey through history.
Holidays in and around Hamina
As along the rest of Finland’s coastline, Hamina is fronted by rocky islands known as skerries. There are around 400 off the coast of Hamina, some of which belong to the Gulf of Finland National Park. The skerries offer plenty of opportunities for visitors to moor their own recreational boats and make use of the facilities available. In summer, even a long sandy beach can draw thousands of swimmers to Hamina, on the eastern side of the Gulf of Finland. Various signposted nature trails lead through the scenic inland countryside and the skerry landscape. In winter, there are also opportunities for alpine skiing near Hamina, including for beginners.
A holiday in Hamina means enjoying a relaxing and exciting family holiday on the Baltic Sea along the Finnish coast, whether in one of the many hotels or in holiday homes and campsites around the city of Hamina.
You can book directly at Hamina Hotel.
