Karelia - Finland - page 391

Drinking & Nightlife
19 Birra B4
20 Boat Bars B3
21 Old Park B4
Sights
Linnoitus FORTRESS, MUSEUM
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.lappeenranta.fi/linnoitus ;fortress free, adult/child combined museum
ticket €9/free; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat & Sun Jun-late Aug, 11am-5pm Tue-Sun late Aug-
May)
Standing guard above the harbour, this hulking hilltop fortification was begun by the
Swedes and finished by the Russians in the late 18th century. Today it contains galleries,
craft workshops and fascinating museums, including the history-focused South Karelian
Museum (Etelä-Karjalan Museo; MAP GOOGLE MAP ;adult/child €6.50/free) , Cavalry Mu-
seum (Ratsuväkimuseo; MAP GOOGLE MAP ; adult/child €3/free; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri,
11am-5pm Sat & Sun) and South Karelia Art Museum (Etelä-Karjalan Taidemuseo; MAP
GOOGLE MAP ;adult/child €6.50/free) . Its Orthodox Church ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ;
10am-5pm Tue-Sun Jun-mid-Aug) , Finland's oldest church, was completed in 1785 by Russi-
an soldiers. Pick up the tourist office's free walking guide The Fortress of Lappeenranta .
Hiekkalinna SANDCASTLE
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; http://hiekkalinna.lappeenranta.fi ; 10am-8pm early Jun-Aug)
Every summer around 30 sand artists from Finland and abroad gather to build the
Hiekkalinna, a giant themed 'sandcastle' made from some three million kilograms of sand.
Previous themes have included dinosaurs, a Wild West scene incorporating a gigantic
steam train, and 'outer space' featuring ET and Darth Vader. Kids' entertainment here in-
cludes small carousel-style rides.