Fortress of Suomenlinna


World Heritage Identification Number: 583

World Heritage since: 1991

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇫🇮 Finland

Continent: Europe

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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The Fortress of Suomenlinna: A Unique Blend of History and Scenic Beauty

The Fortress of Suomenlinna, also known as Sveaborg, stands as a testament to the rich history and architectural prowess of the 18th century. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, this remarkable sea fortress is nestled within a cluster of eight islands situated approximately four kilometers southeast of Helsinki, Finland's bustling city center.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Built in the second half of the 18th century by Sweden on a group of islands located at the entrance of Helsinki's harbour, this fortress is an especially interesting example of European military architecture of the time.

Encyclopedia Record: Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna, or Sveaborg, is a sea fortress composed of eight islands, of which six have been fortified. Located about four kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of the city center of Helsinki, Finland, Suomenlinna is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, who enjoy it as a picturesque picnic site.

Read more on Wikipedia

Additional Site Details

Area: 210 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape

Coordinates: 60.14722 , 24.98722

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Image of Fortress of Suomenlinna

© Michal Pise, Michal.Pise, CC BY 2.0 Resized from original.

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn
80 km — Estonia
Verla Groundwood and Board Mill
136 km — Finland
Struve Geodetic Arc
143 km — Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Sweden, Ukraine
Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki
206 km — Finland
Old Rauma
219 km — Finland

Country Information: Finland

Flag of Finland

Official Name: Republic of Finland

Capital: Helsinki

Continent: Europe

Population (2024): 5,637,214

Population (2023): 5,583,911

Population (2022): 5,556,106

Land Area: 303,950 sq km

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Fortress of Suomenlinna are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Suomenlinna, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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