Every design for Loviisa

Loviisa is known for its fortifications and its handsome rebuilt centre. It was founded on the King's Road as a frontier and fortress town after the border moved and Hamina was left on the Russian side. At first it was called Degerby, until King Adolf Frederick of Sweden visited and renamed it after his wife, Queen Louisa Ulrika. The bilingual town, Lovisa in Swedish, has since gathered Pernå, Liljendal and Ruotsinpyhtää around it.

What makes Loviisa unique is how much of that fortress past is still there to touch. Construction of the town's fortress stopped when Sweden ran short of money, but Bastion Rosen and Bastion Ungern still stand east of the centre, and the sea fortress of Svartholm guards the approach from the south. During the Crimean War a fire destroyed much of the old town, and the senate decided Loviisa would be rebuilt on the same spot rather than moved. Loviisan Merenkulkumuseo, the tug Hinaaja Onni and the sailing ship Purjelaiva Österstjernan keep the maritime side alive, and the town is also home to the Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant.

Grow up in Loviisa and the map holds your own routes: past the bastions, along the shore to the pier, and out towards Svartholm on a summer boat.