Cultural tourism is one of the fastest-growing areas of tourism and one of the megatrends of tourism in the future. Cultural tourism destinations are being developed continually, providing higher quality, more experiences and improved revenues. Southeast Finland and the Leningrad Region have a unique network of castles and fortifications that are closely intertwined with the history of both countries. Nowadays, therefore, both the Russian Federation and Finland are maintaining and taking care of their own but also each other’s cultural heritage: regardless of who built the fortifications, they have become shared heritage.
At the international level, studying important castles and fortifications allows us to follow the course of history from the end of the pre-historical period to the beginning of the 19th century. To date, there is no network of fortifications in place, but several castle routes exist in Europe for cultural travellers.

The objective of the Castles and Fortifications project is that the castles and fortifications in Finland and Russia and companies using the castle theme will create a cultural tourism route and network of international significance. Participants will offer high-quality cultural tourism services and experiences under the Castles and Fortifications brand, such as a range of castle/ fortification events, Castle products and virtual products. The project includes an electronic database containing participants’ products. Tourists, business operators and castle custodians can tailor individual travel theme packages in the area of the network. As part of the project, a book presenting the castles in the network and a travel guidebook will be published.

The project encompasses the revival of a site, the creation and development of a cultural tourism product and commercial quality training. New theme events and theme activity are created together with staff at the castles and with business operators, with assistance from cultural and artistic experts. The latest technology, historical material and artistic means are used in the creation process. The database will incorporate historical material, cultural tourism material and related products. New virtual products will also be created for the database. Impact studies will monitor the target achievement rate of the castles’ and companies cultural travel objectives and joint criteria and models will be created for monitoring activities in Finland and Russia.

The basis of the Castles and Fortifications network project is a Finnish-Russian network of experts conducting scientific research into the joint history of the two countries. The network project encompasses not only building up a cultural heritage knowledge resource but also co-operation between Finland and Russia on caring for castles and fortifications, restoration and developing presentation.
 
The network aims to seek recognition as a Council of Europe Cultural Route. The Finnish-Russian Castles and Fortifications Forum, which includes 13 Finnish and 9 Russian castles, has been preparing a cultural tourism route since the forum’s foundation in 2001. The network received preparatory funding for the project from the EU’s Neighbourhood Programme for the period 1 January-30 September 2007. The preparatory project was applied for and administered by the Continuing Education Centre and Savonlinna Centre for Continuing Education and Regional Development (SKK) and the Centre for Tourism Studies (MOT) of the University of Joensuu. The partners were the National Board of Antiquities of Finland and Leningrad Region Culture Committee, Museum Department. The project provided the basis for the application for and implementation of the Castles and Fortifications project itself, the content of the Castles and Fortifications project was planned and the www.fort.fi website was expanded.

Petri Raivo, director
Joensuu University, Centre for Tourism Studies

 

Contact details

Joensuu University
Matkailualan opetus- ja tutkimuslaitos (Centre for Tourism Studies)

Puistokatu 5, PO box 78
FI-57100 Savonlinna, Finland
http://mot.joensuu.fi/sivut/in-english.html

Petri Raivo
professor, director
+ 358 15 511 7628 tel.
+ 358 50 525 9827 gsm
petri.raivo[at]joensuu.fi

Isto Vanhamäki
researcher
+ 358 50 517 5693 gsm
isto.vanhamaki[at]joensuu.fi

 

National Board of Antiquities

Anne Parikka
project coordinator
Häme Castle
Kustaa III:n katu 6
13100 Hämeenlinna
+ 358 3 616 6379 fax
+ 358 50 596 3556 gsm.
anne.parikka[at]nba.fi

Kari Nikkanen
construction director
Department of Monuments and Sites
Sturenkatu 4
PL 169, 00511 Helsinki
+ 358 9 4050 9420 fax
+ 358 9 4050 9434 tel.
+ 358 50 63 840 gsm.
kari.nikkanen[at]nba.fi

 

Committee on Culture of the Government of the Leningrad Region, Museum Agency

Shukovaskaja Nadeshda
Director of State Cultural Institute, Leningrad Region
191311 Pietari, ul. Smolnogo 3
+7 812 579 57 22 tel.
mus_agency_obl[at]inbox.ru

The State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg

Julia Demidenko
Deputy Director, Research Department                                      
Petropavlovskaja krepost 3
197046 Sankt-Peterburg
 +7 812 4980511 tel.
jdemidenko[at]mail.ru