Signs of War History on the Borderland between the East and the West

Armies have travelled across Finland many times, established fortresses, fought battles and built monuments. There are many remnants of wartimes which have remained in varying parts of our country left behind by the Swedish, Soviet and German armies, as well as by Finland's independent army.

In order to better enable transport and defence castles and island fortresses were built little by little in the most important areas. During the 1900s the introduction of trench warfare brought with it underground dug outs, trenches, artillery points and connecting tunnels.

"News bulletins" carved into stone are testament to dramatic phases in history, and large structures such as fortresses are the most visible signs of man's actions on Finnish soil during those times when peace was a peculiarity interspersed between one war and the next.

Today these war monuments from the Täyssinä peace treaty border stone from the end of the 1500s to the cannon holds from sea battles waged in the most recent wars on the Gulf of Finland are all sights protected by the Antiquities Act. Metsähallitus manages war history sights erected by all warring and peacemaking parties from this entire 500 year era.

What types of monuments and ruins have survived? What are the stories behind them? Information boards at each destination detail the remnants of war history in the landscape. Information on war monuments can also be found in the section on prehistoric sites. All the destinations on the Nationalparks.fi website which have war history sights can be found using the destination search form on the website.