City: Kymenlaakso
Top Things to do in Kymenlaakso
9 Architectural Buildings in Kymenlaakso That You Shouldn't Miss
Kymenlaakso (literally Kymi Valley) (Swedish: Kymmenedalen) is a region in Finland. It borders to the regions Uusimaa, Päijänne Tavastia, Southern Savonia and South Karelia. Its name means literally The Valley of River Kymijoki. Kymijoki is one of the biggest rivers in Finland with a drainage basin with 11% of the area of Finland. The city of Kotka with 55,000 inhabitants is located at the delta of River Kymijoki and has the most important import harbour in Finland. Other cities are Kouvola further in the inland which has after a municipal merger 88,000 inhabitants and the old bastion town Hamina.
Restaurants in Kymenlaakso
1. Varissaari - Fort Elisabeth
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
2. St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By mikaelk676 - Copenhagen, Denmark
My other brother lives just on the other side of the park. This Russian Orthodox Church was the very few of buildings which were not bombed down during the WWII. The entire city was bombed down, and so this church maintained its power as the shrine for the patron saint of sailors, helper of the poor ( all we know Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas ) and also patron saint of the island Kotka. What you go to see are the beautiful icons covered in gemstones and precious metals, and the rose oil and galbanum burning always as an eternal prayer. The ceiling with its gold stars is worth a peek, just lay down on the floor and amazement the beauty of the thousands of stars on a blue background. This church is also worth seeing for its Christmas Mass, pompous of course because it is the church of Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Nicholaj...and the Easter Mass with the entire community lead by gold clad priests round the church seven times...take a picnic with you and enjoy on the greens, or check if they have the fish pond, selling fresh salmon, and cure and prepare it if you want to!
3. Hamina Town Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By FiftyFifty5050 - Montgomery, United Kingdom
The town of Hamina was planned in a circular design, with the Town Hall having pride of place at the centre - a wide road circling around it and all streets then leading off it. Driving up one of the 'spokes' of this design, one cannot miss the town hall. More formal in design than many of the low wooden buildings which surround it, the town hall stands out, particularly when lit up at night and is a fitting centrepiece for what is really a small town. There is a cafe in one side (we didn't visit) which our daughter, who is living in Hamina, tells us is great for sitting outside and watching the world go by. Other than that, it really is the symbol of the layout of the town. A good photo opportunity and accessible from anywhere in Hamina.
4. Saint Peter and Saint Paul Cathedral
5. Main Building of Military School
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
6. Hamina Fortress
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By FiftyFifty5050 - Montgomery, United Kingdom
The Hamina Fortress is worth a visit just to marvel at the phenomenal earth moving exercise that must have taken place to construct it. The fortification circles the town, part earthworks, part stone buttressing - and huge stones, no mere feat at all. We visited in October, during Covid-19, so the fortress was deserted and the canopy was not in position; this did reveal the sheer size of the open area though. It is well worth walking the circumference of the fortress and then carrying on along the top of the wall to see the other fortifications. Building and engineering that you seldom see on this scale today.
7. Sunila Residential Area by Alvar Aalto
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 6 reviews
Sunila residential area by architect Alvar Aalto is internationally the best known architectural destination in the Kotka-Hamina region. It is the largest project realized according to Aalto’s plan. The area consists of the manager’s residence Kantola and the sauna, 12 row and block houses, and maintenance buildings. The Sunila factory and the residential area became the icon of Aalto’s interpretation of international modernism, which was presented at the World Exhibitions in Paris and New York, in 1937 and 1939. The area is protected in the Detailed Plan due to its architectural and cultural-historical importance.
8. Fort Slava
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 2 reviews
