We got acquainted on 9.8. To the wooden architecture of the old town of Loviisa.
Loviisa is a lovely little wooden house town, which is about 90 km from the Finnish capital, Helsinki. Finland’s most famous composer Jean Sibelius also comes from here.
The original name of Loviisa was Degerby. It was founded in 1745 as a border and fortress city more than 10 kilometers from the then eastern border, because Eastern Finland needed a new stable town in Hamina after peace of Turku in 1743 on the other side of the border.
Degerby became Loviisa in 1752. King Aadolf Fredrik of Sweden visited the city at that time and named the city after his wife, Queen Loviisa Ulrika. Loviisa is also called the city of the queen.
Loviisa is known for its old town, which also houses one of the oldest wooden buildings in Finland, the outbuilding of the Degerby equestrian farm, which dates back to the 17th century. The houses of the old town were saved in the great fire of Loviisa in 1855.
The old wooden houses in Loviisa are concentrated around Kuningattarenkatu and Mariankatu, although there are other fine wooden house areas. The long streets converge at the Salt Market.
As early as the 17th century, Loviisa’s industry was built for shipping. Timber was the city’s largest export asset. The salt fences in the Laivasilta area date back to the time when salt was brought through the port of Loviisa to as many as one-seventh of Finland’s residents. Today, the old red wood warehouses have for example, maritime museum, restaurants and shops. The harbor of the Laivasilta is mostly used by recreational boaters.
Loviisa has also been known for its spas, the health source of Loviisa was found in the 1750s and its mineral water was used to cure and prevent all kinds of ailments.
Today, in the charming wooden house area of Loviisa, you will find a few nice cafés with beautiful courtyards. At the once-a-year Wanhat Talot events, the charming Loviisa houses and their residents also open their doors to the general public. Visitors will then have the opportunity to peek inside the walls of the homes, see the restoration of the buildings, repair- and interior design solutions.
The Loviisa Open Garden event is also held twice a year in Old Loviisa, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere brought by beautiful personal courtyards. Both the Wanhat Houses and the Loviisa Open Gardens events have been really popular in recent years for both locals and visitors, and the houses and courtyards will be seen from afar and inspired by their own restoration projects and gardens.
