Southeastern Finland Fortress Route

In the aftermath of the Gustav III wars (1788 - 90), at the request of Empress Catherine the Great, General Aleksandr Suvorov was tasked in 1791 to strengthen and build entirely new fortresses on the then Swedish border. Suvorov started working determinedly, and in Southeastern Finland, a strong fortress system consisting of three fortress chains was established to protect the capital of the Russian Empire, St. Petersburg, from possible Swedish attacks. The defensive line closest to the capital, located now in Russian territory, consisted of Pähkinälinna, the Kronstadt fortress, and the castles of Viipuri and Käkisalmi.

The Southeastern Finland fortress route introduces the middle and outer fortress chains. The Hamina, Taavetti, and Lappeenranta fortresses formed the middle fortress chain. The outermost chain consisted of the Kyminlinna and Ruotsinsalmi fortresses built right on the border line in Kotka and the medieval Olavinlinna in Savonlinna. The outer fortress chain also included the smaller inland Järvitaipale, Kärnäkoski, Utti, and Liikkala forts.

The fortresses were built quite quickly, and many were already completed in the early 1790s. However, work continued at many sites until close to the turn of the century. The massive effort to fortify Old Finland was ultimately wasted because the border between Russia and Sweden moved far west after the Finnish War of 1808-1809. After the war, the land fortifications were decommissioned one by one, and only the coastal fortifications retained military significance. This cycling route takes the rider to these long-forgotten achievements of Suvorov.

The route, mainly consisting of cycle paths and other low-traffic village roads, takes you from fortress to fortress and from the sea to Saimaa. Along the route, there are also numerous unique nature and cultural sites of Southeastern Finland, offering some of the best parts of Finnish nature just a stone's throw from the capital's pulse. The route can be thought of as Finland in miniature: with river valleys, ridges, old-growth forests, groves, bog ponds, and magnificent river, lake, and sea landscapes along its path. The route meanders in idyllic rural and forest landscapes where you can momentarily sense time almost standing still. You can cycle the routes spending the nights in the forest or enjoying local guesthouses and campsites.

The route starts in the center of Kouvola and proceeds toward the coast of the Eastern Gulf of Finland. After the Kotka and Hamina fortress routes, the route continues through peaceful village roads toward Saimaa, where the lake section of the route begins. On this section, you can admire Saimaa's beautiful lake expanses. The final part of the route returns toward Kouvola. The fortress route is primarily designed for long-distance cyclists and is suitable for bikepacking adventures. It is also well suited for traveling by car or motorcycle. The starting point and the cities along the route are easily accessible by train or bus.