The history of Vyborg: foundation, historical places, political and military significance

Few in any country in the world have such a large number of interesting cities, as in Russia. The subject of our review is the history of Vyborg. This city is rightly proud of more than three hundred unique objects of cultural and historical significance.

Area of strategic importance

The basis of Vyborg dates from 1293. As part of the historians, this figure is disputed, since in the present-day Vyborg, representatives of Slavic and Karelian tribes lived already in the eleventh century. If you believe the chronicles, the Swedes constantly raided the land of their neighbors. They sought to take possession of the islands of the Vyborg archipelago from strategic military objectives - the Vyborg archipelago is an exceptionally convenient place to accommodate warships. In the rocks it is easy to hide even a very large fleet. In addition, numerous skerries with a depth of straits, not always sufficient for navigation, are ideal natural traps for uninvited guests.

The main stages of the history of Vyborg

The history of Vyborg is divided into seven stages:

• The first stage is before the Swedish invasion. The first mention of this territory and its inhabitants refers to the IX century. The famous Russian historian Tatishchev in his works mentioned a certain Joachim chronicle, where it is allegedly said that the fortress of Vyborg was founded by the elder of Novgorod Gostomysl. One of his sons was called Election - hence the name of the fortress.
• The second stage is the Swedish period. The duration of it - from 1293 to 1710, when he was included in the Russian Empire.
• The third stage is part of the Russian Empire.
• The fourth stage is Finnish.
• The fifth stage - the war of 1940-1944.
• The sixth stage - in the USSR
• The seventh stage is modern, that is, from 1991 to the present.

Founder of the city

In 1293 the Swedish marshal and regent of King Torgils Knutsson made another, now victorious, campaign to the lands of Karelians and Novgorodians. On one of the islands he founded a military fortification, which he called the Holy Fortress. This is how the word "Vyborg" sounds in Swedish. 1293 is considered to be the year of Vyborg's birth. Proceeding from this, it is possible to count how many years Vyborg, and almost eight hundred of them.

Guided by the convenient motives of the crusades, the marshal expected to extend the possessions of Sweden to more distant territories. He possessed extraordinary talents not only in military affairs, but also in politics. As representative of one of the most fertile and wealthy families in Sweden, Turgils Knutsson first became a shadow ruler for the sick king Magnus I Ladulos, and then, after the accession to the throne of minor Birger Magnusson, was appointed regent. Shortly before his father's death, around 1290, the ten-year-old Birger Magnusson placed Knutsson as Supreme Commander of Sweden.

The beginning of the next century can be considered a sunset in the biography of the courtier. In 1302-1303, a dispute arose between Birger Magnusson and his brothers about the right to succession to the throne. Torgils Knutsson found himself in a whirlpool of intrigue, but during this period his positions were particularly weak due to a conflict with Pope Boniface VIII. The fact is that the regent of the king, experiencing great need for funds for governing the country, tried to take possession of the rights over the treasury of the church. As a result, he was declared an enemy of the faith and country and publicly decapitated.

The memory of the founder of the city is immortalized in a bronze monument erected in the square in front of the Old Town Hall.

Castle of the Crusaders

The main attraction of the city is Vyborg Castle. The Vyborg symbol was founded in 1293 by the leader of the crusade, Torgils Knutsson. In this period, this territory belonged to the Novgorod principality, and Karelians lived on it. The Swedish marshal, having seized Vyborg, blocked the Novgorodians the only trade route to Europe and directed his plans to the more distant continental lands of the Slavs.

The castle is a fine example of Western European medieval military architecture. It stands on the Castle Island, which was formerly called Volovym. The northern part of it is low-lying and suitable for agricultural needs, and the eastern part is a rocky hill. Here we built a powerful wall almost 2 meters thick. A watchtower was erected in the center of the island. At the base it has a square section. Monumental four-meter walls of the dungeon reliably protect the inner space of the tower from the cannonballs. Then this structure was the highest in Scandinavia. He was called the tower of St. Olaf in honor of the King of Norway, who baptized the Scandinavian lands.

In the middle of the XV century, the governor of the Swedish King Karl Knutsson Bunde thoroughly ennobled the inner space of the donjon, dividing it into chambers of various purposes, knights and ceremonial halls, made tile stoves. The low part was enclosed by a fortification wall, and the top was paved with a stone. He added a fortress wall to square-shaped watchtowers, and erected a Paradise tower in the courtyard. This round tower is also considered a symbol of Vyborg and is often depicted on postcards with city views and souvenirs. On the mainland, the governor built a fortress wall with defensive towers, thus turning Vyborg Castle into a rear fortress with a double wall.

In 1556, the Swedish king Gustav Vaz visited the strategically important island. Again, Vyborg Castle underwent significant changes. Vyborg fortress changed the silhouette: the main tower was built up by a seven-story octagonal pole with loopholes. The dilapidated interior was replaced by a new, expensive and exquisitely beautiful, and in the castle yard added a thorough economic buildings.

Most of the buildings were wooden. They often burned, and in the 16th century some of the buildings were removed, and stone buildings were erected in their place. In the courtyard of the castle dug a few ponds and arranged a fountain. Along the north-west wall, stone barracks were built from the outside. Some medieval houses that appeared at that time still exist.

Vyborg Castle remained inaccessible until 1710.

Vyborg in the Russian Empire

After the defeat in the Northern War and the fall of the fortress of Oreshek, St. Petersburg was threatened by a direct attack from the Swedes. Since 1706, Peter I made several attempts to get the Swedes to give him an island so important for Russia, but all of them ended in failure. Only the last, undertaken in 1710, brought victory to the tsar. On June 23, the Swedish garrison signed an act of surrender.

The local population did not feel any harassment from the Russian conquerors. They did not extend the law on serfdom. In the Orthodox country they were saved native, Lutheran, faith. Moreover, the city continued to live by its old, that is, Swedish, laws. With the arrival of Russians in the city, trade revived, industrial enterprises arose, the number of residential areas, the settlement increased, and old fortifications were modernized. By the way, one of the mayors was Abram Petrovich Hannibal, the grandfather of the poet Alexander Pushkin.

From the outskirts of the Swedish outskirts of the city of Vyborg turned into a thriving province of Russia. Even the external appearance of the city and its architecture have undergone tremendous changes. Many outstanding architects carried out their projects here, including Eduard Ivanovich Totleben and Juhon Jakob Arenberg.

From the middle of the 19th century industrialization was very rapid in Vyborg. The navigable Saimaa Canal was laid , the city was gasified, then the turn came to electricity, central water supply and telephony. From 1856 to 1912, Vyborg was in a period of unprecedented rapid economic development. For three years, built a railway with the length of more than 350 km, and in 1870 along it the route St. Petersburg-Helsingfors passed the first train. In 1912 the most remote corners of Vyborg connected the tram lines, and the population of the city by that time had grown to 50 thousand people. It was the second largest city of the Grand Duchy of Finland. The population consisted mainly of Finns - about 81%, Swedes were 10%, and Russians - only 6.5%.

The specific past, mentality and liberal traditions have caused Vyborg to become the center of gravity of opponents of tsarist power. It was here that the famous "Vyborg Appeal" was born, which called for acts of civil disobedience. Before the revolution itself, Lenin was hiding here.

Architect Jacob Arenberg

Architect Arenberg was of the opinion that his hometown should become an example for all, he must show and teach how representatives of different nationalities and religions can peacefully coexist among themselves. It is not so important which authorities control the territory on which they live. The main thing is good-neighborly relations and mutual respect.

He lived and worked in the Russian Empire and considered himself a Russian architect (at that time Vyborg was the Grand Duchy of Finland as part of Russia). It is noteworthy that he, a Swede by nationality, is currently considered a Finnish architect. This is how the unique feature of the Vyborg land is manifested.

In general, the history of Vyborg is a story of cruel wars of conquest, and the monument to Torgils Knutsson, created by Jakob Arenberg, is the first monument that romanticizes and reconciles the history of the region.

Jacob Arenberg (1847-1914) designed and built several buildings that still adorn the cities of the three neighboring states. Such Vyborg streets as Sovetskaya (former Posesskaya) and Krepostnaya (formerly Catherine's), located in the center of the city, are most interesting for those who honor the creativity of the famous architect. Right at their intersection is the Main Post Office building. This is the last project of Arenberg. Here the architect deviated somewhat from his usual neo-renaissance and, inspired by the beauties of the Drottninghem Palace, imitates Peter's Baroque.

On the Soviet street you can see the former residence of the governor of Vyborg. Currently, the city council of deputies of the Vyborg district is located here. The governor's house can be considered a visiting card of Arenberg. A subtle imitation of the Italian architect of the 16th century is also expressed in the decoration of the facade. The project uses rustic tiles on the ground floor, ionic columns, semicircular windows, symmetry and strict geometric lines. On the same street there is a well-preserved building of the former real lyceum, and if you go a little farther to the school street, then you can look at the building of the former women's school, built by the famous master.

Finnish Period

The February revolution of 1917 and the events of October that followed it served as an impetus to the civil war and the separation of the Grand Finland Principality. In the new state, Finland, the red revolution was defeated, and republican rule was established in the country.

All ties with the USSR were severed. Equality of representatives of different nationalities replaced the supremacy of the Finnish population. The Finnish language became a state language.

Vyborg became the second most important city in the country - both as a cultural, industrial and socio-political center. Local architect Otto-Iivari Meurman developed a forty-year plan for the development of the city and the outskirts of the outskirts. The implementation of his plans was started in 1929 in Finland, and finished in the 70s in the Soviet Union.

The history of Vyborg kept the information that even before the war with Hitler Germany, several very interesting buildings were built in the city, characteristic for the style of functionalism. It was designed by Ragnar Jupuya trade and naval school, the state archive of the Uno Ulberg project and the library of Alvar Aalto.

The Alvar Aalto Library

In 2013, after the completion of extensive restoration, Vyborg City Library opened its doors to readers. Throughout the world it is known as the library of Alvar Aalto. This is the only structure of the outstanding Finnish architect that appeared within our country. Adhering to functionalism in combination with modernism, Aalto designed and built a building that meets all the requirements of architecture in the designated styles.

The library was built for eight years and was opened in October 1935. During the war, it was not damaged, but in the postwar years it was not exploited. As a result of dampness and neglect, communications, plaster, ceilings, lost fixtures and furniture were rendered unusable, a unique ventilation system was clogged.

The first restoration of the 50's was carried out without the original drawings, so the opening in 1961, the library was a bit like the creation of Alvar Aalto. The second restoration of 1994-2013. Gave her the original look. The Committee for the Restoration of the Vyborg Library, established in 1992 in Finland, joined the work. An international comprehensive scientific program on the restoration of the creation of architect A. Aalto was developed. From the Russian side, funding was provided from the federal budget.

The ceiling lighting was restored - 57 round windows in a flat roof. Their diameter is 1.8 m. Aalto calculated the thickness and bevels of the cylindrical apertures so that the sunlight in them is refracted and reflected. Such diffuse lighting does not harm the eyes and does not allow burn out books.

Again, ventilation with a "climate control" system began to work. Alvar Aalto designed it in such a way that the dust does not move in the air. Heating pipes he installed in the ceiling, in the walls mounted ventilation shafts, and under the windows installed valves for airflow.

A unique wavy acoustic ceiling was recreated in the lecture hall.

To restore the library, with few exceptions, the same materials used by the architect himself were used.

The Three Wars of 1939-1944

From November 1939 to June 20, 1944, the power and composition of the population changed on the territory of the Vyborg District three times. All three military campaigns are characterized by fierce battles and large losses among civilians.

The first one remained in the history with the title "Winter War". The Soviet version claims that the fighting began by the Finns, firing on the border territory of the USSR from artillery guns. The world capitalist community declared the beginning of hostilities a provocation of the Soviet state and expelled the Soviet Union from the League of Nations. March 12, 1940, the war ended with the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty, according to which 11% of the territory of Finland, including Vyborg, went to the Soviet Union. The Finnish government forcibly resettled the local population to the territory of Finland. The collection was taken 24 hours: no one had time to collect properly, all the acquired property was abandoned to the mercy of fate. According to a special program, the associated lands began to be intensively populated by Russians, industrial enterprises, institutions of culture, education and healthcare began to operate.

Peace time ended on August 29, 1941, when parts of the 4th Corps of the Finnish Army took a retaliatory move and seized Vyborg. Russia again lost its northwestern fortress. The troops of the workers 'and peasants' Red Army withdrew from the city. The Finnish population returned to their homeland, but stayed here only for three years.

June 20, 1944, Soviet troops re-entered Vyborg - Russia took revenge, and the Finns were hastily evacuated to the interior of their country.

The sixth stage - in the USSR

This period is considered to be from the summer of 1944 to 1991. Three wars caused enormous damage to the city. Leaving, Finns mined the most important industrial enterprises and houses. Not everything was cleared. More than 500 buildings were destroyed. On the shoulders of the Soviet people lay the heavy burden of restoring urban economy. Vyborg was included in the list of 15 cities that are subject to the state's primary concern.

In 1947, a plan was developed for the development of the infrastructure of Vyborg. By the mid-1950s, instrumentation and shipbuilding plants, a plant for citric acid, and others began to operate. The tram service was replaced by a bus service, the locomotives were replaced by electric trains. Historical monuments, such as the castle of the Crusaders, fortifications, bridges and many medieval houses, began to be restored. The park of sculptures and the museum-reserve "Park Monrepo" opened. The clock tower of the cathedral was partly restored.

"Monrepo Park"

On the island of Tverdysh, in the northern part of Vyborg, is located the historical and architectural and natural museum-reserve "Park Monrepo". Initially, these lands, Tsar Peter, gave eternal use to the commandant of the Vyborg fortress Stupishin. He drained the marshes, bore the fertile land, planted the fruit and deciduous trees. All subsequent hosts also contributed to the ennobling of the estate.

The most famous architects, artists, sculptors and garden masters at different times worked on manor buildings and landscapes. Suffice it to say such names as Montferrand, Martinelli, Gonzaga, Tom de Tomon, AI Stakenschneider, Mettenleyter, Takanen. In the years of the three wars of 1939-1944, most of the masterpieces were spoiled, taken out or destroyed. During the Soviet era, little work was done on the territory of the park. Most of the surviving buildings were used for social facilities - kindergarten, rest home, etc.

Now the park is being improved. Every summer, there are musical festivals of Celtic and folk music, restoration of old and construction of new buildings intended to return the park to its former appearance and purpose.

The newest history of Vyborg

The newest history of Vyborg is counted from 1991 to the present. Despite the fact that some of our contemporaries say that from the point of view of protecting the north-western border of the Russian Federation, Vyborg has lost its former significance, we consider these thoughts to be wrong and harmful. The city-fortress still protects this region and our country from the invasion of an ideology and way of life that is alien to us. This is its political and military significance. It is the most important sea and land base of the country.

Modern Vyborg is a beautiful, modern city, living an active spiritual and business life. There are factories and factories, several higher and secondary educational institutions, schools, kindergartens, hospitals and rest homes. Problems with public transport are solved thanks to the appearance of new transport interchanges. The tourism sector of the economy is developing. In particular, the Vyborg fortifications on the Battery Mountain became part of the excursion routes.

Symbols of the city

The main symbols of the city, which always tell the guides and which are depicted on souvenir products, include the castle of the Crusaders, the Latin letter W, the coat of arms of the city, the famous Vyborg pretzel, the Drakkars, the Church of Hyacinth, the Tower of St. Olaf, the Paradise and the Clock Tower, A monument to Marshal Knutsson.

Pretzel, as they say, is no longer the one that once brought glory to the city, but it is still unusually tasty, and tourists still try to buy and bring it to their loved ones.

As for the coat of arms, it changed several times. In 1710, after the victory of Peter I, there was an attempt to decorate him with an image of an elephant, but this symbol did not take root. The modern coat of arms of Vyborg is a slightly improved version of the coat of arms, which was approved by Empress Catherine II in 1788. There are three fields on it - blue, yellow and red. On them - three crowns and a letter W. On the right and left are two angels. The great wings of heavenly patrons and the fortress wall in the background protect the well-being and peace of the inhabitants on the land entrusted to them.