savonlinna

File:Olavinlinna on sunset.jpg

File:Nyslott - Pehr Adolf Kruskopf - Finland framställdt i teckningar - 80.jpg edited by Zacharias Topelius and published 1845–1852.]]

The city was founded in 1639, based on Olavinlinna castle (St. Olaf's Castle). The castle was founded by Erik Axelsson Tott in 1475 in an effort to protect Savo and to control the unstable border between the Kingdom of Sweden and its Russian adversary.{{Cite web |title=History - Olavinlinna castle |url=https://www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/olavinlinna/historiaa |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=The National Museum of Finland |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Koskela |first=Hannu |date=2017-07-20 |title=Suomen keskiaikaiset kivilinnat 6/6: Olavinlinna |trans-title=Medieval stone castles of Finland 6/6: Olavinlinna |url=https://www.apu.fi/artikkelit/suomen-keskiaikaiset-kivilinnat-66-olavinlinna |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Apu.fi |language=fi}} During the Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743), the castle was captured by Field-Marshal Peter Lacy. It was held by Russia between 1743 and 1812, when it was granted back to Finland as a part of "Old Finland".

In 1973 the municipality of Sääminki was consolidated with Savonlinna.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} In the beginning of year 2009 the municipality of Savonranta and a {{convert|31.24|km2|abbr=on}} land strip from Enonkoski between Savonlinna and Savonranta were consolidated with Savonlinna.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} In the beginning of the year 2013, the municipalities of Kerimäki and Punkaharju were consolidated with Savonlinna.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

The most notable attraction in Savonlinna is the Olavinlinna castle, a 15th-century castle built on an island. Near the castle is also the Savonlinna regional museum. Some other attractions include the forest museum Lusto in the village of Punkaharju, and the Kerimäki Church in the neighboring village of Kerimäki, which is the largest wooden church in the world.

Savonlinna hosts the famous annual Savonlinna Opera Festival, which was held first time in 1912.{{cite book

|last=Symington

|first=Andy

|title=Lonely Planet Finland

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SNatbAr2SFgC&pg=PA136

|accessdate=10 October 2010

|date=1 April 2009

|publisher=Lonely Planet

|isbn=978-1-74104-771-4

|page=136}} The operas are performed on a stage built inside the Olavinlinna castle. The city has also hosted the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships since 2000.

File:Savonlinnan tuomiokirkko 1 AB.JPG|Savonlinna Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran Church

File:Kerimaki church exterior.jpg|Kerimäki Church is the biggest wooden church in the world.

File:Savonlinna Museo 1.JPG|Savonlinna Provincial Museum

File:Lusto 1 AB.jpg|Lusto is a national forest museum is located in Punkaharju

File:PunkaharjuVomWasserturm.jpg|Punkaharju Ridge nature reserve

{{Weather box

| location = Savonlinna Punkaharju Laukansaari (1991–2020, extremes 1959–present)

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 6.9

|Feb record high C = 8.7

|Mar record high C = 14.1

|Apr record high C = 22.5

|May record high C = 28.9

|Jun record high C = 32.8

|Jul record high C = 32.6

|Aug record high C = 32.3

|Sep record high C = 27.5

|Oct record high C = 18.3

|Nov record high C = 11.7

|Dec record high C = 8.9

|year record high C = 32.8

| Jan high C = -4.5

| Feb high C = -4.4

| Mar high C = 0.9

| Apr high C = 7.3

| May high C = 14.6

| Jun high C = 19.3

| Jul high C = 22.0

| Aug high C = 19.9

| Sep high C = 14.1

| Oct high C = 7.0

| Nov high C = 1.4

| Dec high C = -2.2

| year high C = 8.0

| Jan mean C = -7.4

| Feb mean C = -7.7

| Mar mean C = -3.3

| Apr mean C = 2.6

| May mean C = 9.4

| Jun mean C = 14.5

| Jul mean C = 17.3

| Aug mean C = 15.5

| Sep mean C = 10.5

| Oct mean C = 4.5

| Nov mean C = -0.6

| Dec mean C = -4.5

| year mean C = 4.2

| Jan low C = -10.6

| Feb low C = -11.3

| Mar low C = -7.5

| Apr low C = -1.7

| May low C = 4.4

| Jun low C = 10.0

| Jul low C = 13.3

| Aug low C = 12.0

| Sep low C = 7.5

| Oct low C = 2.3

| Nov low C = -2.5

| Dec low C = -7.2

| year low C = 0.7

|Jan record low C = -40.2

|Feb record low C = -38.0

|Mar record low C = -33.2

|Apr record low C = -22.6

|May record low C = -10.2

|Jun record low C = -0.5

|Jul record low C = 4.7

|Aug record low C = -0.3

|Sep record low C = -4.4

|Oct record low C = -11.3

|Nov record low C = -25.9

|Dec record low C = -36.0

|year record low C = -40.2

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 42

| Feb precipitation mm = 34

| Mar precipitation mm = 35

| Apr precipitation mm = 29

| May precipitation mm = 42

| Jun precipitation mm = 62

| Jul precipitation mm = 69

| Aug precipitation mm = 78

| Sep precipitation mm = 62

| Oct precipitation mm = 62

| Nov precipitation mm = 52

| Dec precipitation mm = 52

| year precipitation mm = 619

|Jan precipitation days = 11

|Feb precipitation days = 10

|Mar precipitation days = 9

|Apr precipitation days = 7

|May precipitation days = 8

|Jun precipitation days = 10

|Jul precipitation days = 10

|Aug precipitation days = 10

|Sep precipitation days = 10

|Oct precipitation days = 12

|Nov precipitation days = 12

|Dec precipitation days = 12

| source 2 = Record highs and lows 1959- present{{cite web

| url = https://kilotavu.com/fmi-tilastot.php?taulukkomoodi=true

| title = FMI open data

| publisher = FMI

| access-date = 20 May 2023}}

| source = FMI normals 1991-2020{{cite web|url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/336063/Tilastoja%20Suomen%20ilmatosta%20ja%20merest%c3%a4%201991-2020.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=yf |title=FMI normals 1991-2020|publisher=fmi.fi |access-date=20 May 2023}}

}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2023}}

The ice hockey team of Savonlinna, SaPKo or Savonlinnan Pallokerho, is playing in the second tier Mestis.

The top-tier volleyball team Saimaa Volley plays some of its home matches in Savonlinna. The football team Savonlinnan Työväen Palloseura (STPS), is playing in Kolmonen, the fourth tier.

File:Savonlinna Airport AB.JPG

Savonlinna is located {{convert|104|km}} east of Mikkeli, {{convert|133|km}} west of Joensuu and {{convert|159|km}} south of Kuopio. It is also {{convert|335|km}} from the capital city of Helsinki by road, and some four hours away by train. Flights from Savonlinna Airport to Helsinki take 40–60 minutes.

South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences has a campus in Savonlinna, teaching healthcare as well as process technologies. Research and development facilities include laboratories for wood processing and electronics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.xamk.fi/en/xamk2/savonlinna-campus/|title=Savonlinna Campus|access-date=2019-06-01|archive-date=2021-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411130530/https://www.xamk.fi/en/xamk2/savonlinna-campus/|url-status=dead}} University of Eastern Finland had a campus in Savonlinna, primarily for teacher education. The campus was shut down in 2018.{{cite web| url = https://isyy.fi/en/about-us/history/| title = History| access-date = 2019-02-05| archive-date = 2019-02-07| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015719/https://isyy.fi/en/about-us/history/| url-status = dead}}

There are two high schools in Savonlinna. One of these high schools is specialized in art subjects, which when it started its operation in 1967 was the first specialized high school in Finland as well as in all of the Nordic countries.{{cite web |url=http://www.taidelukio.fi/arkisto-2/ajankohtaista/vuosikertomus-2010-2011/historian-lehdilta/ |title=Historian lehdiltä « Savonlinnan Taidelukio |website=www.taidelukio.fi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630082137/http://www.taidelukio.fi/arkisto-2/ajankohtaista/vuosikertomus-2010-2011/historian-lehdilta/ |archive-date=2013-06-30}}

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland}}

Savonlinna is twinned with:{{cite web|title=Savonlinnan ystävyyskaupungit|url=http://www.savonlinna.fi/savonlinna-tietoa/ystavyyskaupungit|work=savonlinna.fi|access-date=26 April 2014}}

• {{flagicon|GER}} Detmold, Germany
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Kalmar, Sweden
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Torzhok, Russia
• {{flagicon|HUN}} Budavár (Budapest), Hungary

In addition, there is non-governmental cooperation with the following cities:

• {{flagicon|ISL}} Árborg, Iceland
• {{flagicon|NOR}} Arendal, Norway
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Silkeborg, Denmark

• Hannu Aravirta, former professional hockey forward, coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien
• Arto Heiskanen, professional hockey left winger
• Kari Hietalahti, actor
• Ere Kokkonen, film director and screenwriter
• Hanna Kosonen, politician and ski-orienteer
• Erik Laxmann, explorer and natural scientist
• Ville Leino, former professional hockey forward
• Petri Matikainen, ice hockey coach
• Jarmo Myllys, former professional hockey goaltender, member of the 1988, 1994 and 1998 Finnish Olympic ice hockey teams
• Pasha Pozdniakova, Finnish-Russian Playboy model and social media influencer{{cite web|url=https://www.stara.fi/2022/05/24/pasha-pozdniakova-savonlinnan-torilla-jaatelolla/|title=Pasha Pozdniakova palasi Savonlinnaan – loksautti leuat torilla|work=Stara|date=24 May 2022|access-date=9 October 2022|language=fi}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ita-savo.fi/paikalliset/4751639|title=Savonlinnalainen malli Pasha Pozdniakova tienaa työllään kymppitonneja kuukaudessa ja haaveilee laulajan urasta – "Katsotaan, jos musta tulee toinen Beyoncé", hän vitsailee|first=Veera|last=Salminen|work=Itä-Savo|date=31 July 2022|access-date=9 October 2022|language=fi}}
• Joonas Rask, professional hockey forward for HIFK
• Tuukka Rask, former professional hockey goaltender, member of the 2014 Finnish Olympic ice hockey team
• Heikki Silvennoinen, actor and musician
• Pekka Tirkkonen, ice hockey coach

• i
• St. Olaf's Castle
• Savonia (historical province)
• Savonlinna Opera Festival
• Punkaharju Ridge

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category-inline}}

• [https://www.savonlinna.fi/en/ Town of Savonlinna] – Official site
• [https://visitsavonlinna.fi/en/ Visit Savonlinna official tourism site]
• {{Wikivoyage inline}}
• [http://www.world66.com/europe/finland/savonlinna World66] – Open source travel guide
• [https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2673137 Map of Savonlinna]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Savonlinna
{{Nobold|(surrounds Enonkoski)}}

| N = Heinävesi (North Karelia)

| NE = Liperi (North Karelia)

| E = Rääkkylä (North Karelia)
Kitee (North Karelia)

| SE = Parikkala (South Karelia)

| S = Ruokolahti (South Karelia)

| W = Rantasalmi
Sulkava

| NW = Varkaus (North Savo)

}}

{{SouthernSavonia}}

{{50 most populous Finnish municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Populated lakeshore places in Finland

Category:Cities and towns in Finland

Category:Inland port cities and towns in Finland

Category:Grand Duchy of Finland

Category:1639 establishments in Sweden

Category:Populated places established in 1639