Olavinlinna Castle in Finland by Miraceti

In 1714, the Castle Olavinlinna became the property of the Russians for a few years until 1721; but by 1741 it was once again in Russian hands, and remained so until Finland was granted independence from Russia in 1917. The castle has three massive towers, however it originally had five towers. Today there are several museum exhibitions and Castle Museum. In the museum there are objects associated with the castle. There is also a museum with a collection of religious icons and religious objects in Finland and Russia. Olavinlinna Castle Opera Festival takes place here every year already since 1912.

Olavinlinna Castle is one of Finland`s biggest tourist attractions.

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Loket has 3 000 inhabitants and it is located in the Sokolov District in the Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic. Most people visit Loket as a day trip from Karlovy Vary, but it’s also a sleepy place to ease off the travel accelerator for a few days.

Loket means “elbow” in English. The town is named this due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow. The town centre itself features Loket Castle, a 12th century gothic castle. The town centre is a national monument and as such is preserved from modern developments.

There is an annual opera festival in an open air amphitheatre with the castle as a backdrop.

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