|
The town of Vyborg lying on the coast of
the Gulf of Finland is located in the northwest of the Karelian
Isthmus. Vyborg is the first place to welcome visitors coming
to Russia from Scandinavian countries via Finland.
Its more than 700-year history includes
both bright and tragic pages. Swedish, German, Finnish, Karelian
and Russian cultures were melted in the hearth of history
here. Medieval constructions are in close vicinity with buildings
of later ages. Masterpieces of famous architects and sculptors
are next to the works of unknown creators. All stages of fortification
art can be seen here - it is from the old days that Vyborg
has been a town-fortress, a town at the frontier.
The first settlement was founded on the
site of the present-day MonRepos Park in the 11th century.
Its residents made their living on hunting, fishing, farming
and trading with the Baltic countries. The Karelians, being
the majority of population, maintained friendly relations
with the Novgorodians who carried on trade with German and
Swedish cities across the Baltic Sea. Consequently, Vyborg
became an outpost of the Novgorod State in Karelia.
It was back to the middle 12th century that
Sweden first tried to conquer these lands. When the strong
forces of the Swedes with their sovereign Torkel Knutson at
the head invaded Karelia in 1293, they built a stone castle
on Linnan-Saari(Castle) island. Vyborg has become a stronghold
of the Swedish reign in Karelia for four centuries.
In 1703 Peter I founded St.Petersburg -
the capital of Russian Empire - at mouth of the Neva River.
For the sake of the capital security, he moved the troops
to the Karelian Isthmus and Vyborg and after the Swedish garrison
surrendered on June 12, 1710 the town has become a part of
Petersburg province. Russian population was intensively growing.
First Russian schools, a theatre and a hospital were arranged.
Nearly all old buildings that can be still seen in the town
were erected during this period. Vyborg has turned into a
Russian port connecting the country with Western states, mainly
England and Holland.
The year 1811 when Vyborg and the surrounding
lands were incorporated to The Grand Duchy of Finland is another
milestone in political and economic life of the town. Significance
of the Vyborg port increased after building the Saimaa canal
in 1856. In 1870 the railroad went through Vyborg connecting
Helsingfors (present-day Helsinki) with Petersburg and, later,
with other cities of Russia. Trade, industry and banking were
developing. Population of the town has reached 32,000 people
in 1912.
In December 1917, soon after the Great October
socialist revolution, independence of Finland was announced
by a decree of the Soviet of People's Commissars (Soviet Government).
The decree was executed in March 1918 and Vyborg stayed within
the bounds of Finland until 1940. After Winter War of 1939-1940
the frontier on the Karelian Isthmus was moved and Vyborg
with the lands was passed back to Russia (the USSR then).
The town stayed occupied by the German troops
from August 21, 1941 to September 19, 1944 and after liberation
was reunited with the USSR.
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
![Diorama "Winter"](javascript:LoadPicture('images/g01_11_full.jpg', 'Diorama "Winter"'))
)
)