Museum sights in Lappeenranta
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Linnoitus & Museums
The fortifications in the Linnoitus (Fortress) area of Lappeenranta above the harbour were started by the Swedes and finished by the Russians in the 18th century. It's like a separate village; some of the fortress buildings are craft shops and galleries, while others have been turned into interesting museums. There are good views from the fortress over the harbour area.
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B
Cavalry Museum
The cavalry are honoured as Lappeenranta’s greatest heroes, which may seem odd for a port town. The town’s oldest building (erected in 1772) is the stately former garrison that houses the Cavalry Museum. The museum tells the story of how this band of red-trousered warriors began as the finest mounted forces in the Russian Empire and throughout the 1920s and ’30s became Finland’s national heroes. Exhibits of their trousers and skeleton jackets are a highlight along with their horseback armoury. Even today, dragoons are still garrisoned in Lappeenranta, and when they sweep down from the fort in regular parades throughout summer, you’ll see how powerful this land-based f…
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C
South Karelian Museum
South Karelian Museum examines Karelia’s prehistory with Celticlike artefacts – look out for the reconstruction of an elk hunted on ski (literally). There’s a long look back at when Vyborg was part of Karelia with photos and oral histories from before 1939. It’s a source of much wistful nostalgia for most Finns and some older Finns have been known to be moved to tears by how effectively this exhibit brings the town back to life.
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D
South Karelia Art Museum
South Karelia Art Museum has a permanent collection of paintings by Karelian and other Finnish artists. Most of the works are modern and a large part of the space is devoted to temporary exhibitions, which often feature local artists. Unless one of the temporary exhibits takes your fancy, you can probably skip this in favour of better studies of Finnish art in Helsinki.
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