The Siege of Olavinlinna Castle 1788
"The Siege of Olavinlinna 1788", an event celebrating
the 550th anniversary of Olavinlinna Castle
in Savonlinna, Finland on September 5-7, 2025
Savonlinna, a small town in Eastern Finland, steps back into the 18th century this September with the event “The Siege of Olavinlinna 1788” on September 5–7, 2025.
During the first weekend of September, the area surrounding Olavinlinna Castle and Riihisaari Museum Area will be transformed into a grand historical stage, evoking the spirit of the late 1700s.
As part of Olavinlinna’s 550th anniversary celebrations, The Siege of Olavinlinna 1788 will offer a rich look into the history of Finland’s eastern frontier. At a time when Finland's border with Russia – also NATO´s new 1000 km North-Eastern border – is under global attention, Olavinlinna stands as a powerful symbol of defence. The castle’s story is part of Finland’s shared national narrative, and this year it will be honoured as part of Savonlinna’s annual Autumn Fires (Syystulet) festival with contributions from local, national, and Nordic partners.
The program kicks off as early as June with a special exhibition at the Riihisaari Museum on the 18th-century wars in the Savo region. The main event weekend begins on Friday, September 5, with an academic seminar* at Riihisaari focused on the history of Olavinlinna. On Saturday, September 6, visitors can experience an 18th-century military encampment, drills, a parade, a historical battle reenactment of the 1788 siege, the Olavi Fair, and a grand castle celebration with dancing. The event weekend will conclude on Sunday, September 7, with guided tours* to historical battle sites from the Russo-Swedish War (also known as Gustav III’s War) in the Savonlinna area.
Dozens of historical reenactors from Finland and Sweden will bring history to life in authentic 18th-century uniforms and attire. The battle reenactment will include blank-firing demonstrations from the castle’s own gunports. The general program, market, and military camp are open to the public. However, the castle festivities with dancing and the guided tours to battlefield locations require tickets.
Olavinlinna Castle was originally founded in 1475 during the Kalmar Union era (14th–16th centuries) in response to the geopolitical climate in the Nordic region and the need for defensive cooperation against eastern threats. The recurrence of similar geopolitical concerns today lends the event a powerful sense of national defence relevance. The siege of 1788 was the final military engagement in the castle’s long history. The Siege of Olavinlinna 1788 event highlights the castle’s significance for all of Finland and the Savonlinna region, fosters community spirit, and inspires future use of historical content.
The event is organized by the St. Olaf´s Guild, the Gunboat Association, the Rautpohja Historic Artillery Society, the Oravais Historical Society, the Uusimaa Caroleans, and the Westgiötha Gustavianers from Sweden, in cooperation with the National Museum of Finland, the City of Savonlinna, and the Savonlinna Region NGO Network (Kolomonen).
The event is supported by the National Defence Support Foundation, the Wihuri Foundation, the Finnish Swedish Cultural Foundation, the Olvi Foundation and numerous regional societies, companies, and voluntary enthusiasts.
Further information:
St. Olaf´s Guild
pyhanolavinkilta@gmail.com
* The seminar and guided tours are available only in Finnish.
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