History of South-Savo and Lake Saimaa ON THE PIER Living on the shores of Lake Saimaa

Saimaa becomes inhabited Savo between East and West Town built on islands Expanding town The harbour Strait Kyrönsalmi Tarburning Ironworks Agriculture Life in the archipelago Savo dwelling Villas Sääminki parish Church boats Savo boats Boats for every occasion Tar steamers Constructing a tar steamer Life on tar steamers Winter journeys   SAVONLINNA, DAUGHTER OF OLAVINLINNA CASTLE A cluster of houses built by artisans, soldiers and tradesmen on Malmi island beside the castle was initially called Linnan malmi (Engl. ‘Castle Ore’). Savonlinna was granted a town charter by Pietari Brahe in 1639, but lost it as early as 1683 following a fire and poor economic development. For a long time, the town languished as a simple community comprising a population of two or three hundred. After the peace treaty of Turku in 1743, Savonlinna became incorporated into the Russian Empire. A town charter was granted again to the ‘Russian district town’ in 1784. The whole of Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia in 1809, and areas previously annexed to Russia were given back to Finland three years later. The completion of the Saimaa Canal in 1856 was a vital turning point for Savonlinna. The new route provided contact with seas and nearby metropolis St. Petersburg. The trade and travel industries of the small town built on islands began to develop swiftly at the end of the 19th century. For years to come, the character and life of the town were largely dictated by its situation in the lap of Saimaa, where waters from upper bodies gushed through three straits down to southern Pihlajavesi.

mk 29.7.2005