Korela fortress (also called Kexholm and Käkisalmi) is located in the town known by the same name until it was renamed Priozersk after World War II.

The fortress was first founded on the river Vuoksa at its confluence with Ladoga lake presumably by Karelians during the XIII century or earlier. There was a large Karelian settlement and an important centre for trade where the fortress now stands. According to the chronicles, the legendary king Rurik died in Käkisalmi village. Nowadays the Korela fortress museum is a unique combination of man-made structures and natural surroundings.

1294 -1295 The fortress is occupied by Swedish knights for some months. Presumably, the Swedish name Kexholm dates from this period.

1310 Novgorodians build another stronger mainly wooden fortress on an island near the confluence and two km from the Ladoga shore.

1364 A new stone tower is built to further strengthen the wooden fortress under orders from Novgorodian prince's representative (governor), Jacob.

1478 Korela, like the rest of north-western Russia, is now part of Muscovy.

1580 The Swedish military leader Pontus de la Garde seizes the town. The fortification engineer Jakob van Stendahl draws up plans to complete the fortress with a round tower, an arsenal building, gunpowder cellar, and three bastions. Also, the walls themselves are clad with stone. The fortress thus resembles its western contemporaries more then Russian ones. The Russians again occupy the fortress in 1597-1611.

1630-1650 The Swedes build the new regular fortress near the older one. The New fortress has five bastions and houses a town built according to a grid-like plan.

1710 The troops lead by Peter the Great regain Korela and it becomes a Russian town once again. Some modernization and improvements take place. For instance, the New arsenal (now serving as museum) is built in 1776. During the XVIII and XIX centuries the older fortress functions as a prison.

1791-1795 Under Aleksandr Suvorov the fortress is strengthened and assumes an important role in the defence system built to protect the new capital, St. Petersburg.

1810 The Korela or Kakisalmi fortress is officially abolished. The territory of the new fortress remains in use of a military garrison. Barracks are built in town to house some more army units.

The first restoration works on the old fortress began in 1880s, and an etnographic museum was housed in the round tower in 1894. At the same time the new fortress was used as a mental institution, and four of its five bastions were destroyed. During the XX century wars both Russians and Finns took turns occupying Korela. The military hospital was at one time located in the old fortress. The restoration resumed in the late 1950s and during the 60s the museum was opened in the New arsenal building.

The old fortress is still the historic centre of town. Since 1880s there have been singing and music festivals organized there as well as concerts, knight battle enactments and theatrical productions. Today plans are made to use all parts of old fortress to exhibit museum collections.

Nowadays, both railway and highway run through Priozersk. These connect the town to both St. Petersburg and Finnish cities.