Hamina Fortress

Hamina, the circular town, is unique in that it is built within a fortress. With its ramparts and extraordinary town plan it is rare on a global scale - the only other town in the world with such a layout is Palvanova, Italy.

The Fortress of Hamina was built under the Swedish General Axel von Löwen in the 1720s. The fortress and the town plan were based on an Italian star-shaped Renaissance fortress from the 16th century. The Swedes built the fortification as sand bulwarks. The Russians continued the fortification work in the 1740s, when the era of Old Finland began in Hamina under Russian rule.

The star-shaped bastion fortress encloses the old circular town centre, with the eight radial streets starting from the Town Hall Square. The radial streets have two circular cross streets which follow the shape of the fortress.

You can explore the fortress and experience the calming peace of nature right in the centre of Hamina. A 4,5-kilometre Fortress Trail meanders in the fortress ramparts in Hamina. You can walk an almost complete circle along the ramparts surrounding the Hamina centre.

You get to traverse over exciting vaulted corridors, beside built bulwarks and past the renovated Hamina Bastion with its casemate vaults. The trail also offers views of the magnificent old buildings of Hamina.