Visit a Helsinki Landmark

Helsinki as The Capitol City of Finland offers many landmarks and sights of interest to see whilst on a visit.You do not need to travel from from Helsinki City Center to see these sites as most are situated around the downtown area of the city.On this page you will find several places of historical interest in the Helsinki area,marked as a Helsinki Landmark.Many are of architectural importance and you will not be disappointed by visiting any Helsinki Landmark

The Sibelius Monument Helsinki Landmark

The Sibelius Monument Historical  Helsinki Landmark was erected and dedicated to the famous Finnish composer,Jean Sibelius(1865-1957).The monument is considered to be one of the most treasured and remarkable memorials in Finland.Jean Sibelius and his compositions are known through out the world with pieces such as Finlandia and Karelia Suite.The monument was first shown to the eagerly awaiting Finnish public on September 7,1967.There was some conflict as to the design of the Jean Sibeliusmonument,with one camp preferring figurative art and the other abstract art.The work of art was designed by Eila Hiltunen.A truly Helsinki Landmark worth visiting

The Jean Sibelius Monument represents the series of more than 600 hollow steelpipes joined together in a wave like pattern. The work is made unique by its spatial diversity,allowing the viewer to enter it, and the echoes and sounds generated by the structure. Viewed from further away, its form blends in with the woods and rugged rocks. The purpose of the artist was to create a visual expression of the Sibelius music. The Jean Sibelius monument weighs 24 tons and measures 8.5 x10.5 x 8.5 meters.

The Jean Sibelius monument can befound at Sibeliuspuisto(Sibelius Park)Helsinki

Temppeliaukio Church Helsinki Landmark

The Temppeliaukio Church is no doubt the most popular visited historical sites in Helsinki.As a Helsinki Landmark it has become one of the most visited tourist attractions and a must stop, for any one visiting The City of Helsinki.It is more often referred to as The Rock Church.It is an amazing feat in architectural engineering alone,being situated in a granite basin that was quarried and blasted out from natural bedrock.The roof that covers this beautiful church once inside,is constructed of copper and glass.Some one casually walking past would probably not even recognize that a church actually exists there.I must be one of many who who admires the Church for its sheer beauty and impressiveness.There are also English services on Sunday for any one interested in attending.This is a well known and awe inspiring Helsinki Landmark

The Temppeliaukio Churchis situated in the Töölö district of Helsinkion the intersection of Lutherinkatu and Fredrikinkatu,The Church was opened in 1969 and designed by two Finnish Architects,Tumo and Timo Suomalainen.Due to the unique design of the building it is perfectly balanced for acoustics and many choral and string music concerts are held yearly at the Church.I my self visit the church and enjoy the air of peace,quite and tranquility it offers;

Lutherinkatu 3
FI-00100 Helsinki
Finland
Hours:
Mon, Wed 10.00-17.00, Tue 10.00-12.45 and 14.15-17.00, Thu, Fri 10.00-
20.00, Sat 10.00-18.00, Sun 11
Phone:
+358-(0)9-2340 5920/+358-(0)9-2340 5900 (office)

Senate Square Helsinki Landmark

At the very center of Helsinki is Senate Square.The Square can be seen to be the principal Helsinki Landmark.It was created by Carl Ludvig Engel who was a talented of German descent Russian architect.The Senate Square is considered to be one of Europe’s best examples of Neoclassical Design and style.It is also one of the most famous and outstanding skyline Helsinki Landmarks in Finland

Carl Ludvig Engel and the Senate Square as Helsinki Landmark

Carl Ludvig Engel(1778-1840), who had received his diploma in architecture from the Berlin Bauakademie in 1804, found no work in Prussia during the Napoleonic Wars. He applied for and received an appointment as city architect in Tallinn (Estonia). Soon he visited Finland and was asked to design an observatory for the Academy in Turku. Ehrenström first met the talented young architect in 1814 and was immediately convinced that he had found the right man.

After spending a couple of years in St. Petersburg Engel considered moving back to Berlin, but he was appointed architect of the reconstruction committee for Helsinki in 1816 and remained in Finlandfor the rest of his life. Engel was thrilled by his new task: “Few architects have the good fortune to plan an entire city”, he explained in a letter to a friend. And Engel had every right to express himself in this way; within a quarter of a century he had designed and completed about 30 public buildings in Helsinki, all in his chosen Neo-Classical (Empire) style. Some of the buildings have been demolished, but his most important creations around the Senate Square Helsinki are preserved asd both an actively thriving cathedral and Helsinki Landmark

The first building to be completed was the main wing of the Senate (Now the Palace of the Council of State) in 1822. The main University building, on the opposite side of the Senate Square, was inaugurated in 1832. The general form of the building is similar to the Senate, but another language is to be found in the details. The University Library, completed in 1844 after Engel’s death, has often been praised as his most beautiful building.

No building task occupied Engel so long as the Lutheran church on the northern side of the Senate Square. He worked on it from 1818 until his death in 1840. The Lutheran Cathedral – then called the Church of Nicholas - dominating the Square, was finally consecrated twelve years later, in 1852.

These  are just a few of the many interesting Helsinki Landmarks that I and this Blog recommend to be found in Helsinki,Finland,there are many more that I shall be posting in the near future.Visit a Helsinki Landmark to gain an insight in to some of Finlands History