# Hamina Fortress

- **Country:** Finland
- **Coordinates:** 60.569700, 27.197952
- **Condition:** Partly ruined
- **Year Built:** 1720
- **Location Text:** Hamina

Hamina Fortress is a historic military structure located in the city of Hamina on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, where it remains an integral part of the modern city center. Originally constructed starting in 1721 under Swedish General Axel von Löwen following the Treaty of Nystadt, the site was developed to prevent Russian expansion into the gulf. The fortress is architecturally significant as a star fort featuring six bastions named after other Finnish fortified cities. Its design embodies the Renaissance ideal of a perfect city, drawing direct inspiration from Palmanova in northeastern Italy. Although construction began under Swedish rule, the unfinished fortress surrendered to Russian troops in 1743 after the Russo-Swedish War, leading to continued development under generals such as Alexander Suvorov and later Jan Pieter van Suchtelen.

Throughout its history, the fortress has served various strategic roles under Swedish, Russian, and Finnish control. In the early 19th century, it was reinforced as part of the South-Eastern Finland fortification system, which included demolishing older defenses to install modern masonry bastions using the Caponier system. While its active period as a frontline fortress ended in the mid-19th century, the site has functioned continuously as a garrison from 1836 to the present day. Today, the well-preserved walls and caponiers stand as a testament to centuries of military engineering and geopolitical shifts in the Baltic region. The structure represents a unique fusion of urban planning and defensive strategy, marking Hamina as a key historical landmark in Finland.

![Photo of Hamina Fortress](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Galleria_ja_nuolilinnakkeen_vallia.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamina_Fortress (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)