Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 1
Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 1
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 2
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 3
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 4
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 5
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 7
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 8
Olavinlinna Castle
You have to cross over a bridge to get to the main entrance of the castle and then under the gate and through the about 10ft thick stone walls. Olavinlinna Castle 9
Olavinlinna Castle
You have to cross over a bridge to get to the main entrance of the castle and then under the gate and through the about 10ft thick stone walls. Olavinlinna Castle 9
Olavinlinna Castle
This is the first courtyard you see when you enter. The tree shown has been here since the castle was built, or close to it, so it has witnessed a lot of change over the years. The castle has been a part of Sweden, then Russia, and back to Swedish rule again. There has also been changes in the amounts of towers, resulting in only three now. Olavinlinna Castle 10
Olavinlinna Castle
This is the first courtyard you see when you enter. The tree shown has been here since the castle was built, or close to it, so it has witnessed a lot of change over the years. The castle has been a part of Sweden, then Russia, and back to Swedish rule again. There has also been changes in the amounts of towers, resulting in only three now. Olavinlinna Castle 10
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is another part of the castle near the entrance. In the corner there was at one time a kitchen, but it has since been long gone. Olavinlinna Castle 11
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is another part of the castle near the entrance. In the corner there was at one time a kitchen, but it has since been long gone. Olavinlinna Castle 11
Olavinlinna Castle
This is a statue of the patron St. Olaf, and it was added at a later date in 1911 or maybe even more recent. So it's not something that Tott would have seen when he first built the castle 500 years ago. Olavinlinna Castle 12
Olavinlinna Castle
This is a statue of the patron St. Olaf, and it was added at a later date in 1911 or maybe even more recent. So it's not something that Tott would have seen when he first built the castle 500 years ago. Olavinlinna Castle 12
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is the same room that has the statue in it. As you can see there are different chambers leading off and very thick windows too. The stones were all put into place using motar and I am just so captivated by them. I really do love stonework, it's what holds together and captures history in a weathering form. Olavinlinna Castle 13
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is the same room that has the statue in it. As you can see there are different chambers leading off and very thick windows too. The stones were all put into place using motar and I am just so captivated by them. I really do love stonework, it's what holds together and captures history in a weathering form. Olavinlinna Castle 13
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is one of the passageways leading down into another room. Olavinlinna Castle 14
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is one of the passageways leading down into another room. Olavinlinna Castle 14
Olavinlinna Castle
After going up a winding spiral staircase, we reached the chapel. There are twelve crosses on the walls which are from the middle ages. Over the years the church has gone from being used for Catholism, Lutheran, and Orthodox, with the changing of hands, and so today any religion can have a meeting in there. Weddings can also take place here in the small chapel. Olavinlinna Castle 15
Olavinlinna Castle
After going up a winding spiral staircase, we reached the chapel. There are twelve crosses on the walls which are from the middle ages. Over the years the church has gone from being used for Catholism, Lutheran, and Orthodox, with the changing of hands, and so today any religion can have a meeting in there. Weddings can also take place here in the small chapel. Olavinlinna Castle 15
Olavinlinna Castle
One of the towers you can see from walking around one of the courtyards up higher. Olavinlinna Castle 16
Olavinlinna Castle
One of the towers you can see from walking around one of the courtyards up higher. Olavinlinna Castle 16
Olavinlinna Castle
The women had the highest room and their own private bathroom too. Olavinlinna Castle 17
Olavinlinna Castle
The women had the highest room and their own private bathroom too. Olavinlinna Castle 17
Olavinlinna Castle
The different architecture in the different rooms. Again, I just can't get over how amazing the stonework looks. And the wooden ceiling is a nice, more recent addition. Olavinlinna Castle 18
Olavinlinna Castle
The different architecture in the different rooms. Again, I just can't get over how amazing the stonework looks. And the wooden ceiling is a nice, more recent addition. Olavinlinna Castle 18
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is the main dining hall. You can still see original hooks on the ceiling and walls. Behind where I'm standing to take this picture, there is also a little almost oven like space in the wall, which would have been used as a heater in the wintertime. Although, little could really be done about the cold of wintertime. Olavinlinna Castle 19
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is the main dining hall. You can still see original hooks on the ceiling and walls. Behind where I'm standing to take this picture, there is also a little almost oven like space in the wall, which would have been used as a heater in the wintertime. Although, little could really be done about the cold of wintertime. Olavinlinna Castle 19
Olavinlinna Castle
Dining hall. Olavinlinna Castle 20
Olavinlinna Castle
Dining hall. Olavinlinna Castle 20
Olavinlinna Castle
You can still see some of the original building tools and techniques used for crafting the stone walls. Olavinlinna Castle 21
Olavinlinna Castle
You can still see some of the original building tools and techniques used for crafting the stone walls. Olavinlinna Castle 21
Olavinlinna Castle
This is the larger courtyard which houses the opera festival come summer. There are stands and everything is transformed so it looks completely different during that part of the year. Olavinlinna Castle 22
Olavinlinna Castle
This is the larger courtyard which houses the opera festival come summer. There are stands and everything is transformed so it looks completely different during that part of the year. Olavinlinna Castle 22
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is another angle of the courtyard. It is a really big space and nice too. It would be an interesting expirence to live in a castle. I think it would have been kind of cool to see how it would have been like. Olavinlinna Castle 23
Olavinlinna Castle
Here is another angle of the courtyard. It is a really big space and nice too. It would be an interesting expirence to live in a castle. I think it would have been kind of cool to see how it would have been like. Olavinlinna Castle 23
Olavinlinna Castle
Canyon. Olavinlinna Castle 24
Olavinlinna Castle
Canyon. Olavinlinna Castle 24
Olavinlinna Castle
Here's a bigger, intact family crest for Axel Tott. This room housed all sorts of different postcards and images of the castle from over the years. Olavinlinna Castle 25
Olavinlinna Castle
Here's a bigger, intact family crest for Axel Tott. This room housed all sorts of different postcards and images of the castle from over the years. Olavinlinna Castle 25
Olavinlinna Castle
View from fortress window. Olavinlinna Castle 26
Olavinlinna Castle
View from fortress window. Olavinlinna Castle 26
Olavinlinna Castle
Then down the stairs and through corridors. Olavinlinna Castle 27
Olavinlinna Castle
Then down the stairs and through corridors. Olavinlinna Castle 27
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Model of how big the castle actually is. Olavinlinna Castle 29
Olavinlinna Castle
Model of how big the castle actually is. Olavinlinna Castle 29
Olavinlinna Castle
The passageway up on the castle wall. Olavinlinna Castle 30
Olavinlinna Castle
The passageway up on the castle wall. Olavinlinna Castle 30
Olavinlinna Castle
View from an opening in the wall of the passageway down to the Water Gate Bastion. Olavinlinna Castle 31
Olavinlinna Castle
View from an opening in the wall of the passageway down to the Water Gate Bastion. Olavinlinna Castle 31
Olavinlinna Castle
You can see a toilet sticking out of the Bell Tower here. Olavinlinna Castle 32
Olavinlinna Castle
You can see a toilet sticking out of the Bell Tower here. Olavinlinna Castle 32
Olavinlinna Castle
Bell Tower closer look here. Olavinlinna Castle 33
Olavinlinna Castle
Bell Tower closer look here. Olavinlinna Castle 33
Olavinlinna Castle
A period of extensive construction and fortification followed. For example, the bastions were built under the Russian rule. However, in 1809 when the whole Finnish area went under Russia as the Grand Duchy of Finland the castle lost its strategic importance. Olavinlinna Castle 34
Olavinlinna Castle
A period of extensive construction and fortification followed. For example, the bastions were built under the Russian rule. However, in 1809 when the whole Finnish area went under Russia as the Grand Duchy of Finland the castle lost its strategic importance. Olavinlinna Castle 34
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Small Courtyard. Olavinlinna Castle 37
Olavinlinna Castle
Small Courtyard. Olavinlinna Castle 37
Olavinlinna Castle
Tent Opera. Olavinlinna Castle 38
Olavinlinna Castle
Tent Opera. Olavinlinna Castle 38
Olavinlinna Castle
Tent Opera. Olavinlinna Castle 39
Olavinlinna Castle
Tent Opera. Olavinlinna Castle 39
Olavinlinna Castle
Seat Opera. Olavinlinna Castle 40
Olavinlinna Castle
Seat Opera. Olavinlinna Castle 40
Olavinlinna Castle
Pontoon bridge. Olavinlinna Castle 41
Olavinlinna Castle
Pontoon bridge. Olavinlinna Castle 41
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 42
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view. Olavinlinna Castle 43
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view. Olavinlinna Castle 43
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view, Savonlinna and Olavinlinna castle. Olavinlinna Castle 44
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view, Savonlinna and Olavinlinna castle. Olavinlinna Castle 44
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view, Savonlinna and Olavinlinna castle. Olavinlinna Castle 45
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view, Savonlinna and Olavinlinna castle. Olavinlinna Castle 45
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view, Savonlinna and Olavinlinna castle. Olavinlinna Castle 46
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view, Savonlinna and Olavinlinna castle. Olavinlinna Castle 46
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view. Olavinlinna Castle 47
Olavinlinna Castle
Aerial view. Olavinlinna Castle 47
Olavinlinna Castle
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Olavinlinna Castle
Olavinlinna Castle 48