Att besöka Åbo slott - svensk och finsk historia

Visiting Turku Castle in Finland is very interesting. The castle, which is over 700 years old and has been beautifully renovated, offers plenty of Swedish and Finnish history. Here you can see interiors from the past, learn more about Swedish-Finnish history and see various exhibitions.

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Turku Castle

Turku Castle is one of the most interesting sights in the Finnish city of Turku, which was once Sweden's second largest city after Helsinki. Stockholm. Incidentally, the city is called Turku in Finnish and the castle is called Turun linna, which initially confused us a bit. After a while we realised that "Turun" is a genitive conjugation of the word "Turku", so Turun linna simply means Turku Castle.

Turku Castle is located on the coast, just outside the centre of Turku, in the southwestern part of Finland.

Turku Castle - from camp fort to Renaissance castle

Turku Castle began to be built in the 1280s under the Swedish king, and was initially a simple camp fort. Relatively soon, however, the building evolved into a mighty grey stone castle, with a main castle and antechamber.

In 1556, Gustav Vasa appointed his son Johan as Duke of Finland, and now the castle was given banqueting halls and developed into the Renaissance style it still has today. In one of the exhibition halls you can see models that clearly show the different stages of the castle's historical development.

Erik XIV and John III - a violent feud between brothers

Duke Johan and his brother Erik XIV, who became king after Gustav Vasa, fell into a violent feud. Johan married Katarina Jagellonica from Poland, but they only lived in Turku Castle for six months before Erik XIV charged Johan with high treason and took both him and Katarina into captivity on the island of Turku. Gripsholm Castle.

When Johan was later released, he and his brother Duke Charles staged a coup against King Erik XIV, and in 1568 Johan became King of Sweden. The roles were reversed and Johan imprisoned Erik XIV, first at Turku Castle, and then at a number of other castles before Erik died at Örby Castle in 1577.

Administration, Prison and now ... Museum

The Governor General of Finland, Per Brahe the Younger, held court in the castle in the 17th century. When the administration was later moved to other locations, the castle was turned into both a warehouse and a prison.

The castle was largely destroyed by bombing in 1941. After the end of the war, the castle was restored and in 1961 it was ready to receive tourists. Parts of the castle now look like they once did, while other parts contain various exhibitions.

Visiting Turku Castle

Visiting Turku Castle is something you don't want to miss when you're in Turku. Here you can walk around for a long time in the different halls and rooms.

There are a lot of fine artefacts, such as the medieval wooden sculptures in Sture Church and the Nunne Chapel in Turku Castle, which mainly come from nearby churches.

You can also peek into rooms such as the medieval king's roof, the bachelor's quarters, the maid's quarters and the castle church. Signs tell you when Gustav Vasa visited, where Duke Johan lived and where Erik XIV was imprisoned.

Museums and exhibitions

There are permanent exhibitions in both the main castle and the pre-castle. Here you can see historical artefacts, costumes, furniture, jewellery, coins and exhibitions that tell the story of life in the castle from the perspective of both the courtiers and the servants. There is also a "Children's Castle" with activities for younger visitors.

Temporary exhibition: The Princess's Journey

Currently (2 Nov 2022 - 7 April 2024) there is a temporary exhibition on Catherine Jagellonica called "The Princess's Journey". We liked this exhibition! It is mainly aimed at children aged 6-10, but there are also some more detailed texts for adults.

The exhibition follows the life of the young Polish princess from her childhood in Poland to her marriage to a Swedish royal and her move to "a place in eastern Sweden called Finland".

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

When we were in Turku we stayed at Runsala Camping (Ruissalo Camping). This is a nice campsite on the island of Runsala, where there is a nice swimming area with a sandy beach, a jetty and a sauna. The distance between the campsite and Turku Castle is just over a kilometre.

More to see in the neighbourhood

There is of course more to see in Turku in addition to Turku Castle. We can recommend the Klosterbacken open-air museum, the Aboa Vetus Ars Nova museum, the Forum Marinum and the Pharmacy Museum. Not far from Turku you will also find charming Naantali with The Moomin world. Below you will find even more tips for Finland.

Have you visited Turku Castle?

Have you visited Turku Castle? How was your experience? Please tell us!

Facts about Turku Castle

Country: Finland
Landscape: Southwest Finland
Municipality: Turku
Name: In Finnish Turun linna and in English Turku Castle
Style: Renaissance
Material: Stone and brick
Established: 1280s
Owners: The Finnish state
Read more: You can find more information at the castle's website.

Visiting Turku Castle: Opening hours

Summer season: Every day of the week 10-18 (2023)
Other seasons: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 6pm (2023)
Different opening hours: Please note that the castle may be closed on special days such as Independence Day (6 Dec), Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Visiting Turku Castle: Prices

Adults: 12-14 euros (2023)
Children 7-15 years old: 5 euros (2023)
Children under 7 years old: Free admission
Students, pensioners and the unemployed: 6 euros (2023)
Family ticket (2 adults and up to 4 children): 33 euros (2023)

Visiting Turku Castle: good to know

Pets: Only guide and assistance dogs are welcome.
Accessibility: Turku Castle was built in the Middle Ages, at a time when attempts were made to make it inaccessible. Today there is an accessible entrance at the gate in the West Tower.
Guided tours: General guided tours are given at certain times, in Finnish and English. See the castle's website for more information.
Shop: There is a museum shop with books, souvenirs and gifts.
Restaurant: You can have coffee or lunch in Hertig Johan's cellar.

History at Turku Castle

1280s: The castle was founded and used by the king's governors and soldiers.
14th century: The former open camp fortress was converted into a closed castle with a main and antechamber.

16th century

1556-1563: The castle was given its current appearance in the Renaissance style.
1562: Johan came back from Poland with his new wife Katarina Jagellonica.
1563: Erik XIV, who had become king after Gustav Vasa and was at odds with his brother, forced Johan and Catherine to leave the castle as prisoners.
1570: Johan had become king and took his brother Erik XIV as a prisoner together with his wife Karin Månsdotter, first at Turku Castle, then at the city centre. Kastelholm Castle and Gripsholm Castle. When Erik was taken to Västerås Castle, Karin was taken back to Turku Castle.
1577: Erik XIV died at Örbyhus Castle and Karin Månsdotter had to move from Turku Castle to Liuksiala Manor, which was given to her by Johan III.
1580: Julius Gyllenhielm, the son of Johan III and Karin Hansdotter, became governor of Turku Castle.

17th to 18th century

1637-1640: The Governor General of Finland, Per Brahe the Younger, lived in the castle with his wife Kristina Katarina Stenbock.
1698: The castle ceased to be the seat of the County Governor and the County Council.
18th century: There were two fires at the beginning of this century, and the castle underwent major changes and was subsequently used as a granary and prison.

19th century to present

1890s: The Turku City History Museum was placed in the precinct, and the prison was decommissioned.
1941: The castle was severely damaged by bombing during the Second World War.
1961: After the castle was renovated, it was opened to the public.