Vyborg is an atmospheric town where eras and cultures blend together. At different times it was ruled by Sweden, Finland and Russia. It has a real medieval castle, and the streets of the old town breathe history. Vyborg is the place to go if you want an unforgettable weekend. This route was designed specially for the BelkaCar car-sharing service.
Lallukka House
🏟️ Architectural landmark
Bank of Finland Building
🏟️ Architectural landmark · 📜 Historic site
Market Square
⛲ Square
Round Tower
🏯 Fortress remains · 📜 Historic site
Burgher's Estate
🏟️ Architectural landmark · 📜 Historic site
Church of St. Hyacinth (Knights' House)
🏛️ Museum
Hackman House (Granite Palace)
🏟️ Architectural landmark
Old Town Hall Square
⛲ Square · 🏟️ Architectural landmark · 📜 Historic site
Vyborg Castle and St. Olaf's Tower
🏛️ Museum · 🏟️ Architectural landmark · 📜 Historic site · 🔭 Viewpoint
Clock Tower
🏟️ Architectural landmark · 📜 Historic site · 🔭 Viewpoint
Burgher's House: Russia's Oldest Residential Building
🕵️ Urban legend
Vyborg Tram
🎨 Art installations
Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
🕍 Place of worship
Cathedral Square and Transfiguration Cathedral
🕍 Place of worship · ⛲ Square
Alvar Aalto Library
🏙 Modern architecture
Red Square
⛲ Square
Point 4
🏯 Fortress remains • 📜 Historic site
The 16th-century Round Tower is one of the surviving defensive towers of Vyborg's fortress — a medieval monument and one of the town's main and oldest sights. It was built in 1547–1550 on the orders of the Swedish king to strengthen the fortress's defenses. The fortress itself has not survived; only a few structures remain as reminders of it: the Round Tower, the Town Hall Tower and the Pantsarlaks bastion.
Despite its name, the tower isn't round but egg-shaped. It was built as a fortification. It is 21 meters in diameter, its walls are 3 to 4 meters thick, and its height including the dome is almost equal to its diameter. What makes this old structure especially valuable is that, although it was rebuilt several times, its appearance barely changed — so we can see for ourselves how skilled medieval builders were.
At first the tower had a purely military function. It was built for artillery fire and was almost immediately put to the test: in 1556 Ivan the Terrible's army besieged Vyborg for three days, but the town held out. The tower lost its military role in 1609, when the Treaty of Vyborg was signed between Sweden and Russia. In the early 1700s the Russian army took Vyborg, and the Round Tower housed an arsenal and a customs post where visitors paid duty. In historical documents of different years the tower is called the “Petersburg Tower”, the “Peter Tower” and “Fat Catherine”.
Today the Round Tower houses a restaurant of the same name. It lets you soak up the atmosphere of the 16th century: guests are welcomed into medieval halls with Gothic arches, an old fireplace with a wrought-iron grille, carved wooden furniture and period details.
Point on route “Vyborg's Architectural Contrasts”
Point 4
🏯 Fortress remains • 📜 Historic site
The 16th-century Round Tower is one of the surviving defensive towers of Vyborg's fortress — a medieval monument and one of the town's main and oldest sights. It was built in 1547–1550 on the orders of the Swedish king to strengthen the fortress's defenses. The fortress itself has not survived; only a few structures remain as reminders of it: the Round Tower, the Town Hall Tower and the Pantsarlaks bastion.
Despite its name, the tower isn't round but egg-shaped. It was built as a fortification. It is 21 meters in diameter, its walls are 3 to 4 meters thick, and its height including the dome is almost equal to its diameter. What makes this old structure especially valuable is that, although it was rebuilt several times, its appearance barely changed — so we can see for ourselves how skilled medieval builders were.
At first the tower had a purely military function. It was built for artillery fire and was almost immediately put to the test: in 1556 Ivan the Terrible's army besieged Vyborg for three days, but the town held out. The tower lost its military role in 1609, when the Treaty of Vyborg was signed between Sweden and Russia. In the early 1700s the Russian army took Vyborg, and the Round Tower housed an arsenal and a customs post where visitors paid duty. In historical documents of different years the tower is called the “Petersburg Tower”, the “Peter Tower” and “Fat Catherine”.
Today the Round Tower houses a restaurant of the same name. It lets you soak up the atmosphere of the 16th century: guests are welcomed into medieval halls with Gothic arches, an old fireplace with a wrought-iron grille, carved wooden furniture and period details.
16 points
4 km
4 hours
