Turku (Finland)

...of Turku.

Turku or Abo (like Swedish call it) founded in the 13th century, is the oldest and fifth largest city in Finland, with a population over 174 000. Today Turku is third largest city in Finland after Helsinki and TAMPERE.
Turku has one of the largest Finland-Swedish populations in the country and it was also the capital from 1809 to 1812.



History:

In school I learn that ...
...Finland after the Cathedral of Turku was consecrated in 1300, and Turku Castle and the Dominican monastery were founded in 1249. In 1640, the first university in Finland, the Academy of Åbo, was founded in Turku. Turku was also the meeting place of the States of Finland in 1676.
I'm very happy that after the Finnish War, which ended when Sweden ceded Finland to Imperial Russia at the Treaty of Hamina in 1809, the capital was changed from Turku ... more

I remember when I was 12 and first time in Turku, it was school one day trip and we visit castle and church and Leif candy factory. (Yam!). I love that day, but then I start hear "true" about city of Turku.

Turku or Abo (like Swedish call it) founded in the 13th century, is the oldest and fifth largest city in Finland, with a population over 174 000. Today Turku is third largest city in Finland after Helsinki and TAMPERE.
Turku has one of the largest Finland-Swedish populations in the country and it was also the capital from 1809 to 1812.

History:

In school I learn that Turku was found by Swedish its name originated from an Old Russian word, tǔrgǔ, meaning "market place". Strange is it?? And the city became the most important location in medieval Finland after the Cathedral of Turku was consecrated in 1300, and Turku Castle and the Dominican monastery were founded in 1249. In 1640, the first university in Finland, the Academy of Åbo, was founded in Turku. Turku was also the meeting place of the States of Finland in 1676.
I'm very happy that after the Finnish War, which ended when Sweden ceded Finland to Imperial Russia at the Treaty of Hamina in 1809, the capital was changed from Turku to Helsinki. You will understand later why it's better than Helsinki is capital city. Reason why Turku lost its capital status was only cause Emperor Alexander I felt that Turku was too far from Russia to serve as the capital of the Grand Duchy. Still most of the government offices remained in Turku were finally moved to the new capital, Helsinki, after the Great Fire of Turku, which almost completely destroyed the city in 1827. Shame...it didn't destroy.

I know you want to know why I feel this way about Turku, don't ya? Well I tell you. I'm from Tampere and we and Turku has always had this "love and hate" relationship. Like Scottish and English have. Students at Tampere have organized the Non-Turku Nation (Ei-Turkulainen Osakunta), which since 1997 has made annuals excursion to Turku to jump at the market square (Kauppatori), doing their part to undo the post-glacial rebound and push the city back under the sea. Ten years traditional, wow. SOUND GREAT!!!! Wonder if they take new members in it.

It was Vappu (One of Finnish carnival days, 31.4) I had my student overall on and I have jump in my car. I was study in other city in Finland but very much from Tampere; after all I have born in there. My lovely cousin invites me to Turku. Excellent idea! While I was driving to Turku, From Tampere to Turku it takes about 1hrs 40 min's drive and that's long time to think about what I will see in my final destination. First thing was that I notice many people where driving out of city...hmm...maybe this is not good idea after all. Only famous people lately been in Turku was far as I know American late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien, who visit in city year ago. Wonder if he tries to sink city during his visit. In that tough in my mind I finally I found my self in my cousin and his mates flat, drinking. And after few drinks I couldn't help my self to make sure that everyone knows that Tampere is better place. (Not always good idea especially if you are the only one from Tampere) And I still had couple ace in my pocket. Much later that night I was walking at city central with my cousin and YES I did it. I jump on The Market Square (Kauppatori), and try to sink it. It must me good laugh to everyone else, me totally drunk alone with my mission. LOL. It hard to sink it alone, specially if everyone around you are people from Turku and you ended to spend night with guys in Turku. Some how I just didn't manage in my mission. Next day came too bright...and way too soon. But I want to see what is in Turku. I had quite wet breakfast and I was ready for new day again.

Geography:

Turku located in south western corner of Finland and at the mouth of the Aura River.
For people who live in Turku is very important which side of river they live. And I have so many times heard question's "Which side of river you live" Does it really mater?? YES, it does mater to people in Turku. The eastern side, where the Cathedral of Turku is located, is popularly referred to as "täl pual jokke" ('this side of the river'), while the western side is referred to as "tois pual jokke" ('the other side of the river'). The city centre is located close to the river mouth, on both sides of the river, though development has recently been expanding westward. And there are nine bridges over the Aura River in Turku so people can easily chance sides. I think at that weekend I was "tois pual jokke", other side. I really was from other side =PROUD TO BE FROM TAMPERE.
During the summer temperature can raise high as +30 C and at winter time it drop -10 c, or lower. But now it was spring, well not very cold anymore and during day it was much as +10 c and nice sun shine.

Travelling around City and out to City (!!!):

During that weekend I mainly walk, (from bar to another bar). But City got good public transportation network of bus routes. All the major districts are served by buses every ten to fifteen minutes during the day, some even more frequently. Not bad! Not even to Turku. A single ticket is 2, 50 €, and it's valid for unlimited transfers within two hours of the ticket's purchase.

Rail traffic to and from Turku is handled by the Finnish national carrier, VR. But only way at railway is to Tampere and Helsinki, those are only cities VR operated from Turku.

If you take Taxi, be aware that specially weekend night it mite be more than difficult. Wait times in excess of 1 hour are not unheard of! Taxis charge a base cost of 4-7 Euro depending on time of day, and 1-2 Euro per mile, depending on amount of passengers (more passengers, higher mileage charge).

I notice that some people use bike, you know that vehicle that has two wheels, one behind the other, a steering handle, and a saddle seat or seats and is usually propelled by the action of a rider's feet upon pedals.
You can rent bike from there for 10 € per day or 50 € per week.

There is no subway in city, unless you mean that sandwich restaurant, yes, you can found one in Forum mall central of city.

But famous way to travel from Turku is daily ferry services from the Port of Turku to Sweden and Åland, operated by Silja Line, Viking Line and Sea Wind Line. These are somewhat of a Finnish cultural tradition "ruotsinlaiva" = Swedish boat and people often travel long distances across Finland to Turku just to take a cruise across the Gulf of Bothnia. These ferries are quite fun experience.
Turku also got airport. Is the official airport of the Moominworld!

Language:

Back to Turku, where I was spending my weekend with other Turku people. Quite early I found that I wouldn't understand them and no it was not only my alcohol in my vein but also accent. Nearly 6 % people speak Swedish and nearly 2 % people who live in Turku spoke Russian. And even those 89% who spoke Finnish as their native language I find it hard to understand. But don't worry nearly everyone understand English.

Education:

I was joining party with other students. And wow...where was so many students. It feels like everyone in that night was student. No wondering because Turku has a longer educational history than any other Finnish city - the first school in the city, the Cathedral School, was founded along with the Cathedral of Turku in the late 13th century. And even nowadays, the University of Turku is the second largest university in Finland. Turku is also home to several other establishments of higher education, namely Åbo Academy, Finland's only Swedish-language university, Turun kauppakorkeakoulu (Turku School of Economics), and Turun ammattikorkeakoulu (Turku University of Applied Sciences), the largest polytechnic in Finland. And at that weekend nearly every one was member or used to be member of those. Except me, some point of weekend I did feel little pit out cider...but then I order more drink and start thinking about culture signs in Turku.

Culture Signs:

First thing what comes in my mind when people speak about Turku is 'Christmas Peace'. "Tomorrow, God willing, is the graceful celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour; and thus is declared a peaceful Christmas time to all, by advising devotion and to behave otherwise quietly and peacefully, because he who breaks this peace and violates the peace of Christmas by any illegal or improper behaviour shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offence separately. Finally, a joyous Christmas feast is wished to all inhabitants of the city."
It's been declared on every 24 December at the Cathedral of Turku.

Handicrafts museum is Luostarinmäki. Museum is an outdoor museum that offers information, specimens of skill and experiences in an original pre-industrial environment. Visitors will step 200 years back in time at the museum. You can found museum from address: Vartiovuorenkatu 2. Admission fee is 5€ from adult and family ticket (2 adults and 2-4 children) 11.50€

City is also host of Down by the Laituri, rock festival and another rock festival Ruisrock, the oldest rock festival in the world and (held on the island of Ruissalo).
Turku also has number of museums, like the Jean Sibelius museum, which is the only museum in Finland specialising in the field of music.

And my favourite, the Turku Castle from the 1280s, I don't think Turku would be Turku without its Castle. Turku Castle has been a functional historical museum since 1881. Turku castle is the largest surviving medieval building in Finland, and one of the largest surviving medieval castles in Scandinavia. And I'm not only one who loves that Castle. The castle is Finland's most visited museum, with attendance reaching 200,000 in some years. No wonder that Turku is a candidate city for European Capital of Culture in 2011. Admission fee to Castle is 7, 00 € from adult and family tickets are 15, 50 € (2 adults and 2-4 children).

And never for get Moomins. The Moominworld is located in Naantali, at a distance of some 16 km from Turku and some 180 km from Helsinki. And it's open daily during summertime only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. And one day ticket cost 18 €.

City also provides many tours like Dungeon tours and Old Elf tour.

Sport:

During my weekend in Turku we also play games, not just drinking games but some type of football. And it's not only sport that people in Turku likes. As in most other Finnish cities, the most popular sport is ice hockey. It's local club TPS plays in the sport's top level in Finland and it has won the Finnish ice hockey championship 10 times. Turku is birthplace to a number of prominent NHL players including Saku Koivu and Miikka Kiprusoff.
The Paavo Nurmi Marathon is an annual sporting event in Turku, named after the world-famous runner who was born and raised in the city. And back to football, our team was not very good but we had fun. City of Turku also has two teams in the Veikkausliiga: FC Inter and TPS (which is part of the same organisation as the ice hockey team). TPS was won Finnish Championship 8 times.

Food:

Even our "food" during a weekend was quite wet and mainly junk food. Food in Turku is like anywhere else, but as near location for sea, you see very often fish in menu. For proper restaurant meals, expect to pay 10-30 Euro, but city is also home for Finnish hamburger restaurant chain Hesburger (Finnish version for McDonald's). And there for it's the dominant burger chain in Turku, and you will find several of these in downtown.

My favourite restaurants can be found from the restaurant boats on the banks of the River Aura and "Viking Restaurant" Harald, downtown on Aurakatu, giving patrons a pseudo-authentic Viking style environment. In fact there are 11 boat restaurants in the River Aura and 3 of those are open around a year. And if you are looking gentleman's club' style environment go to Oscarin Olohuone in hotel Hamburger Börs.

Drinking:

We spend time in many bars around Turku and later at Saturday night in the Night Club Marilyn what is particularly popular as a disco/night club especially on the late teens-early twenties crow. But cause I'm way over that age I found my self in Night club Giggling Marlin. Its a similar disco for early twenties upwards, so it more for me another night club I was thinking to go, (but didn't just because cue's where HUGE) was night spot for mid-to-late twenties, Börs Night Club in the same building as the hotel Hamburger Börs (but open to all, not just hotel guests). During summer very popular place to start or spend all evening is restaurant and pub boats on the banks of the River Aura.

Remember that the legal drinking age in Finland is 18 for mild alcoholic drinks (up to 20%/40-proof) and 20 for stronger drinks than that.

Sleeping:

City of Turku never sleep...well that what some people say. I did try to get some sleep in my cousins. But if I can need to stay over night somewhere else I would go to Sokos Hotel Hamburger Börs, situated middle of city central right beside the marketplace. Actually few years ago I stay over night in this hotel and it was very nice. Another good and chap hotel is hotel Omena (apple).Booking only by Internet, and you get a pass code online which you can use to get into the building. There is no reception staff and no breakfast. It's very popular and you can get room from 50€ for night.

But I was came end of my exceptional weekend. I pack my car and wave to guys. I had nice weekend but I was so happy to see road sign "TAMPERE". It was nice to go back home.

I will end my review with important info about Turku that you probably never need.

- There is over 36 different species of fish in River Aura (one bloke from Turku told this to me during my weekend, do I really need this information???)
- You can found Turku Café Bar not in Turku but in London!!!
- World biggest Caribbean Cruise under building in Turku and it's nearly twice bigger than Titanic was. How big titanic was...and story didn't end very well...so I don't think I need this information.

Thank you for reading this!
 

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