Esplanade Park. Esplanade Park Opposite which, not so long ago, a small playground was built, and right in the middle of the lawns

In the center of Helsinki there is Esplanade linden park - one of the favorite places for walks, both for citizens and guests of the city, nicknamed by the inhabitants of the capital Espa.

Back in 1812, the park was included in the Helsinki development plan by the architect Karl Ludwig Engel and, 10 years later, it was laid out according to his project.

At the entrance to the park is the Capelli restaurant. In 1940, in its place was a small kiosk selling snacks. In 1867, according to the sketches of A.Kh. Dahlström is a stone restaurant building, subsequently this building was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded.

On the territory of the park is concert hall, which hosts performances in the summer, folk, jazz, rock, blues festivals, about 200 artists perform every summer. The music pavilion hosts two major festivals every year: Jazz Espa and Folk Espa.

In the center of the park there is a sculpture depicting J.L. Runeberg - folk poet, author of the text of the Finnish anthem, created by his son Walter Runeberg. The grand opening of the monument took place 10 years after the death of the poet in 1885.

In the eastern part of the Esplanade, in 1908, a fountain was installed, decorated with a bronze statue of a girl, which was made by Ville Wahlgren. When the covers were removed from Havisa Amanda (“sea nymph” in Swedish) at the opening ceremony, respectable Finns were embarrassed by the sight of a naked body. Today, the girl from the fountain is a kind of symbol of the Esplanade.

In addition, there are several more sculptures in the park: a monument to the poet Eino Leino of 1953 and a sculptural group "Fairy Tale and True Story" of 1932, dedicated to the Finnish storyteller Zaharius Topelius. The park ends at the Swedish Theatre.

Esplanade Park on the map

Where is the Esplanade Park on the map of Helsinki, how to get there

Esplanade Park is a magnificent linden grove with numerous alleys, monuments, restaurants and a summer theater. The park is located in the central part of the capital. The park was laid out in the 20s of the last century, which makes it one of the oldest parks in the capital. He gained popularity almost immediately local residents.

The park is one of the best places for cultural activities and recreation. Thanks to its magnificent alleys, refreshing fountains and musical performances on the summer stage, it is very popular with tourists.

The monument to the famous Finnish poet Ludwig Runeberg deserves special attention. national anthem Finland. It is also worth visiting the old restaurant "Capelli".

Esplanadi Boulevard Park

The Esplanadi is a picturesque city park located in the heart of the city of Helsinki. Both citizens and guests of the Finnish capital are very fond of spending time in the park - it's just perfect place for walking and relaxing.

Esplanade is a real oasis, sandwiched between two busy streets - North and South Esplanade.

It is also one of the oldest parks in the capital - it was designed by the architect Engel and first appeared on the city map back in the twenties of the 19th century.

From all sides the boulevard is surrounded by beautiful medieval buildings and architectural monuments. There is also something to see in the park itself - well-groomed flower beds, shady linden alleys, picnic meadows, fountains and a huge number of various statues and monuments await the passer-by.

In general, the park on the boulevard can be safely called one of the most famous and beautiful sights of the city of Helsinki. Clean air and wildlife attract a lot of tourists and vacationers here.

Esplanade Park

The park stretches for 400 meters in length. Tall trees (mainly shady lindens) are planted along the entire perimeter and beautiful flower beds are arranged.

Since 1867, the famous restaurant Kappeli has been operating on the territory of the park with a stage for the performances of artists who daily entertain visitors to the Esplanade. Under the canopy of park trees, there are many monuments to historical figures. For example, in the very center there is a statue of the author of the words of the national anthem - Johan Ludwig Runeberg.

Another asset of the park is the Swedish Theatre, built in 1966. Its appearance has practically not changed to this day thanks to the careful restoration of the facade and the preservation of the interior.

The Esplanade is open around the clock. Free admission.

Linnanmäki amusement park

Linnanmäki amusement park, located in the center of the Finnish capital, Helsinki, was opened in 1950 and is the oldest amusement park in the city.

There are more than 40 attractions on the territory of the park, the most popular of which for more than half a century have been such as the Raging Stream, 370 meters long, the Roller Coaster, 960 meters long and 24 meters high, and the Overturning Carriages, developing a speed of 60 kilometers. at one o'clock.

Also Linnanmäki Amusement Park offers to visit the fear room, 3D cinema, Toy Museum, two-story aquarium, restaurants, cafes and shops.

Esplanade Park

Esplanade Park is a favorite vacation spot for residents of the Finnish capital. The people called him in a simple way - "expa". The date of its creation dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, when Helsinki was just beginning to expand.

The center of the public life of the park can be called the Capelli restaurant, built back in 1867. Since then, the restaurant has been rebuilt many times. During the summer, there are daily performances, both musical and theatrical.

A real scandal broke out in 1908, when a monument to the sea nymph was opened in the park in front of the general public. The naked girl shocked the intelligent Finns so much that many demanded that the monument be immediately demolished. But despite the riot of the crowd, art prevailed, and today the sea nymph is one of the main decorations of the park.

Liesjärvi National Park

Liesjärvi National Park is a traditional Finnish farm where you can wander along the paths around the lakes and watch birds and animals.

In the summer, Korteniemi Farm becomes home to the livestock traditionally raised on Finnish farms: cows, horses, sheep and poultry. Above the fields, where vegetables and grain crops are grown in traditional ways, without the use of chemicals and pesticides, swallows flutter.

Among the waterfowl that inhabit the park's large pristine lakes are the graceful whooper swan, considered the national bird of Finland, as well as the black-throated diver and grey-cheeked grebe. The natural forests of Liesjärvi Park are open to the public all year round.

Liesjärvi Park has about 30 km of signposted paths, including paths leading to the Häme Information Center, which houses a local wildlife museum and a cozy café.

Torronsuo National Park

Torronsuo - national park, which was founded in Finland in 1990. It is located in the south of the country, 100 kilometers from the capital Helsinki. The area of ​​Torronsuo is small: only 25,500 square kilometers. The Finnish government decided in a timely manner to protect the data untouched lands without waiting for their natural drainage. A particularly majestic sight is Torronsuo from a bird's eye view. You can view the territory from such a height using the high observation tower in Killamo.

The basis of the park is raised bogs with a thick layer of turf. Moreover, as scientists have discovered, the thickest layers of peat in Finland are located here, up to 12 meters. Several species of butterflies live within Torronsuo. And there are even more species of birds that live here: ducks, loons, petrels, pheasants, storks, ibises and herons. And it's far from complete list the local inhabitants. Some species of birds and insects are typical for the northern regions of Finland, and in the south of the country they are found only within this park.

If you get to Torronsuo in the summer season, you can taste delicious wild berries - blueberries, cloudberries and cranberries. When visiting the park, you should not leave the paved paths, as you can easily fall into the swamp.


Sights of Helsinki

Esplanadi Park is a favorite place for walking locals and tourists who come to Helsinki. Located in the city center, the park is ideal for both picnics and leisurely walks. No visit to Helsinki is complete without a visit to the Esplanade. Without a doubt, this part of Helsinki near the city center is admired by all travelers.

History of occurrence.

The Esplanadi Park in Helsinki is often compared to the Central Park in Helsinki. New York. Esplanadi Park is located in the heart of the city center, parallel to the park are two of the busiest shopping streets in Helsinki - South and North Esplanadi. The park was opened in the early 19th century. He instantly gained popularity in the circles of the bourgeoisie and still attracts couples in love, who leisurely stroll through the park, admiring the scenery. The park and adjacent boulevards were designed to mark the boundary between Helsinki's city center and the outskirts. The history of the Havis Amanda fountain is interesting. When the fountain was installed in 1908 it caused a scandal. The naked, sensual lady depicted on the fountain was supposed to symbolize Helsinki - at that time it was too frank and provocative. Over time, passions subsided and today she is a participant in an almost hundred-year-old student tradition - on May 1, a hat is put on the head of the statue, thus marking the beginning of a “professional” holiday.

Architecture.

Esplanadi Park in the center of Helsinki is surrounded by two streets - North and South Esplanadi. The park is located in such a way that sunlight illuminates it throughout the day. Being located in the city center, the park conditionally separates the noisy business part of the center and the quieter, southern part cities. To the east, the Esplanadi park ends with a fountain, behind which a view of the Helsinki market square and the sea ​​bay. From the western part of the Esplanadi Park, among the green trees, the Swedish Theater is hidden, behind which the busiest street in the center of Helsinki roars. The walls of the theater block the Esplanade Park from the noise of traffic, so being so close to the bustle of the city, at the same time you can retire to the park in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. On a warm summer day, it is almost impossible to find free benches, so young people sit right on the grass, which gives the park a relaxed atmosphere. In the center of the park stands a monument to the national poet of Finland, Runeberg (1804-1877). In the western part of the park there are statues of the writer Zacharias Topelius (1818-1898) and the poet Eino Leino (1878-1926).

Note to the tourist.

Esplanade in Helsinki is not only a popular park. In winter, Christmas markets are held here, and in summer, concerts under open sky. After a walk, you can take a break in the numerous cafes, watching from the terrace free concerts, which are arranged almost every day in the summer. Esplanade Park is also the main venue for celebrations on May 1st. Even though the park is quite cool and windy during the cold Finnish winter, the Christmas market has been held in the park since 1993.

To the Red Well Square along Torkkelinkatu (now the avenue of the "leader of the world proletariat"). Shady alleys of the park

attract lovers of both morning jogging and evening gatherings on benches with cans of dubious liquor in their hands. Some residents of the surrounding houses use it as a restroom for their four-legged friends, and the kids squeal excitedly on the rides. Many Vyborg residents, who in their childhood gathered acorns under the mighty oaks of the park,

may notice that now the Esplanade Park is going through not the most better times. First of all, the reduction in the area of ​​\u200b\u200blawns is striking, due to the increase in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bpaths, paths, paths .... which are spontaneously trampled in all directions by various "individuals"
which are united by the realization that a straight line is the shortest distance between points.


As a result, the area of ​​trampled land in the park currently exceeds the area of ​​lawns.

Yes, and from the lawns themselves there is one name. Weeds grow, mostly dandelions.

The rest of the lawn is eaten up by the horse.

However, maybe this is some kind of "advanced" lawn mower?
Imagine a similar picture, let's say, in the Summer Garden of St. Petersburg.
On this "lawn mower" the kids are also rolled.

Along Torkkelinkatu, a large linden alley stretches through the entire park.

In total, about 120 lindens grow on it, and the age of these trees is almost 150 years. Many of them are in critical condition.

What will replace them? No one is taking seriously the issue of cultivating trees in the park. Several seedlings were planted this spring,

but they will become real trees in 70 years. By this time, most of the old lindens will have disappeared, even now only stumps are left of them after pruning the branches.

It is possible that this was done for safety reasons for cars that are parked along Torkkelinkatu in unimaginable numbers. But was it even worth opening the avenue of the "leader of the world proletariat" for the movement of vehicles.

Here he is, in the background, behind the sculpture "Forest Boy" which would be nice to "take to the bathhouse."

The fence was erected by a well-known Vyborg company in order to recreate the same "Esplanade Pavilion". Yes, it looks like the guys were "blown away", but the fence remained.


By the way, this "attraction" is adjacent to another "masterpiece" of Vyborg - a pink falling fence,

which, in turn, is a continuation of the old brick wall installed on the remains of the curtain wall of the Horned Fortress.

The most popular place in Esplanade Park is the joy of local children - rides.

Opposite which, not so long ago, a small playground was built, and right in the middle of the lawns.

Once upon a time, grass grew on this place, as well as around the indispensable attributes of a civilized society established in the neighborhood,


which, judging by the trampled area, are visited very actively. This is also evidenced by the stench spreading hundreds of meters around these "attributes". And in the background, surrounded by a green fence, there is a large public toilet, long closed, which, if put in order, could solve all the problems and, first of all, the problem of the presence of the fence itself.

And yet this is a park, and trees grow in it, and there are quite rare specimens.
Bird cherry Maaka.

Manchurian walnut.

Cork Amur velvet.

It grows next to the Peter and Paul Cathedral.

On the right side of the cathedralMonument to Mikael Agricola

educator and reformer who taught the "poor Chukhonian" to read and write.
Before the war, this monument stood at the entrance to the Lutheran Cathedral in the part of the park where
Alvar Aalto Library.

Against Cathedral of Peter and Paulthere is an old granite fountain,

from which the symbol of "United Russia" drinks water.

This fountain, unexpectedly "revived" after many years of silence, has always caused a lot of controversy. But still, it is difficult to imagine Vyborg without this building around which more than one generation of local children frolicked.
This is what the square in front of the cathedral looked like in the 30s of the 20th century.

On the opposite side of the Cathedral of Peter and Paul are the remains of another fountain, which was once called "The Girl of Imatra",

and is now in disrepair.
Nearby you can find, created in 2004, the local "neopagan temple"

bearing the name - "holy family".

And all this diversity coexists peacefully in a relatively small area.
Esplanade park. Moreover, this is only half of the park, which is located between the Market Square and Mannerheiminkatu (now Leningradsky Prospekt).
Perhaps the most popular sculpture of Vyborg is located in the second part of the park - the famous Elk. Forest handsome life-size.

And behind the horned giant one can see the architectural masterpiece of "functionalism", the famous and long-suffering

Vegetated in oblivion for decades, the library is experiencing a second birth.

Still, the persistence with which our northern neighbors pushed through the idea of ​​restoration in international instancesAlvar Aalto librariesworthy of respect.

Opposite the entrance to the children's section of the Alvar Aalto Library, there is another fountain with funny stories from time to time.

Yes, and to call this splashing a fountain somehow the tongue does not turn.

And on the other side of the fountain, among the trees, there is a cartoon character about Winnie the Pooh.

The one who tore off the tail of the unfortunate donkey Eeyore.

The entire Esplanade park surrounded by a metal fence around the perimeter.

This is a remake that resembles the original.
Passages in the fence are marked with granite pillars crowned with cast-iron "heads".

True, the "heads" were not preserved on all the pillars. Looks like some of them are missing.
And the pillars in the aisles of the main avenue of the Esplanade park are crowned with ancient cast-iron flower beds.

It has gone through numerous "ups and downs" throughout its history.
Along some alleys of the Esplanade Park you can see the laid paving stones.

These are the remains of a drainage system that once existed to drain rainwater. It was in the form of gutters through which water flowed outside the park.

But due to the fact that no one monitors the state of these drains, they eventually ceased to fulfill their function. And now rainwater flows anywhere, digging ditches in its path, and clogging the city's storm drain with sand.