Turku – Urban legends since 1229
Welcome to Turku!
40 000 ISLANDS AND ISLETS
12 000
7 HILLS
COMPANIES
130
187 000
NATIONALITIES
46 000
40 000
INHABITANTS
STUDENTS
1
FAMILIES
100
RIVER AURA
1 FÖRI CITY FERRY
968
LANGUAGES
PARKS
153 PLAYGROUNDS
Welcome to the city where history meets new culture and drive. Aleksi Randell, Mayor
A player larger than its size on the Baltic Sea Turku has always had a special role among Finnish cities. European art, science, religious and political movements have found their way to Finland through Turku since the 13th century. This history has given the city a distinctively civilised and cultural atmosphere. Turku is also multicultural, as evidenced by the myriad nationalities, languages and customs. The city is home to people of over 130 nationalities, who speak over one hundred different languages.
For centuries, the residents of Turku have cultured land, fished and traded with Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Reval – today known as Tallinn – Riga and Stockholm. The archipelago outside the city has always been a crossroads for new cultures, ideas, doctrines and commodities, and its tides have swept far into the inland areas of Finland.
History is made in Turku even today.
Skills that are seen and heard Turku is distinctively a city of science and research, the development of which relies on high-quality education and specialised scientific research. The higher education institutions in Turku – University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University and Turku University of Applied Sciences – are an important resource and pull factor in the entire region of Southwest Finland.
network with good coverage and a wide selection of events around the year.
Turku wants to be the best town for students in Finland. It has all the prerequisites for this: 40,000 students, over 170 education options, reasonably priced housing, compactness that makes the city perfect for walking and cycling, a public transport
The City of Turku is actively involved in several Finnish and international research networks, specialising in urban studies and research related to the Baltic Sea. Many feel Turku is the best city in Finland to be a student.
Turku Science Park is a community of leading ICT and biotechnology companies and research and education institutes that conducts research and business in the fields of biotechnology, electronics and information technology.
Creativity in sea, land and air Turku is the economic centre of its region. Its diverse economic structure is supported by a vast selection of education opportunities. Our top fields of expertise are life sciences, ICT, maritime industry, logistics, pharmaceutical and food industries and tourism. The creative industries are also becoming more and more important. 23 per cent of the Finnish maritime industry’s total annual turnover is generated in Southwest Finland. The Turku region is home to Finland’s most significant and diverse cluster and network of maritime industry companies and universities.
The historical trade route formed by Stockholm, Turku, Helsinki and St. Petersburg remains significant even today, above all as a corridor of expertise-based growth and development and also as a concrete logistical passage between East and West. Nearly four million passengers pass through the Port of Turku annually. There is regular freight traffic to several countries and a railway connection via Helsinki to St. Petersburg and, from there, to other parts of Russia. The logistics facilities located around the airport serve suppliers across Finland.
Smart city for smart people.
Experiences for all the senses Old culture merges seamlessly with the new in Turku. Examples of cross arts events that are held annually are the Christmas Market and Medieval Market, the Night of the Arts, the Turku Music Festival and Ruisrock, which is the second-oldest outdoor rock festival in Europe. Tall Ships’ Races, one of the largest public events around the Baltic Sea, regularly brings tall ships alongside the banks of the Aurajoki river, the next time is in July 2017.
archipelago and around the city, and the best Nordic raw materials.
Turku has a lively restaurant scene of national renown, and people travel to the city simply to try new foods. The city’s new restaurants are all about respecting local food, local food producers in the
Renovated in the old railway workshop, Logomo is an exciting and international centre for culture, the arts and creative economy where something is going on at all times.
High-grade sports arenas, such as the Gatorade Arena, the Paavo Nurmi Stadium and the sports centres in Kupittaa and Impivaara make Turku a prime location for quality events in a variety of sports, and are an important part of the city’s active image.
Turku does good.
Split by a river, surrounded by an archipelago The Aurajoki river is the public living room of Turku. Every summer, the riverfront is teeming with sunbathers and events, and its many restaurant ships are full of customers who enjoy the long sunny hours. Genuine Turku culture is best discovered at the riverfront. Cycle or paddle upstream or to Ruissalo, to visit its lush oak woods and the shoreline that is dotted with charming 19th century ornamented villas. Turku is surrounded by the Archipelago of Turku and the Archipelago Sea that comprises over
40 000 islands and islets. It is the largest archipelago in Europe, stretching through Ă…land all the way to Stockholm. This unique network of islands was formed by the Ice Age and is now connected by bridges and ferries that welcome visitors to explore the archipelago, for example, along the Archipelago Trail. The daily passenger ships between Turku and Stockholm offer another good way to marvel at the beautiful archipelago. Or you could take a water bus or a charter cruise from downtown, along the Aurajoki river and to the archipelago.
Urban culture embraced by the archipelago.
Historical landmarks in Turku 1229 1280 1309 1488 1738 1812 1842 The bishopric is moved from Nousiainen to Koroinen in Turku. This year marks the birth of the city.
The construction of Turku Castle is started.
The seal that serves as the basis of the Turku coat of arms is released.
The first Finnish book – Missale Aboense (the Missal of the Bishopric of Turku) – is printed in Turku.
Åbo Gamla Skeppswarf is established on the western bank of the Aurajoki river and shipbuilding begins in Turku.
Turku loses its status as the capital to Helsinki. Emperor Alexander I of Russia and Crown Prince Charles XIV John of Sweden meet in Turku.
Henrik Cajander takes the first photograph in Finland on Uudenmaankatu in Turku (daguerreotype).
approx.
1249 1300 1414 1522 1771 1827 1848 The Dominicans arrive in Turku and establish the first monastery and monastery school.
Turku Cathedral is inaugurated.
The construction of Penni, the first bridge that crosses the Aurajoki river, is completed.
The ideas of reformation initiated by Martin Luther’s theses reach Turku.
The publishing of Finland’s first magazine, Tidningar utgifte af ett sällskap i Åbo, begins.
The Great Fire of Turku. One of the many fires the city has faced, but by far the most devastating in the Nordic countries. The city has to be virtually rebuilt.
Pinella, the first open-air restaurant in Finland, opens in Turku.
A lot of water has flown in the Aurajoki river...
1897 1904 1920 1961 1982 2010 2015 Legendary runner Paavo Nurmi is born on Jarrumiehenkatu in Turku.
The ferry Föri starts operating cross the Aurajoki river.
University of Turku is established with donated funds.
Finland’s first library on wheels starts operating in Turku.
Mauno Koivisto from Turku is elected as the President of Finland.
TPS, the ice hockey club of Turku, wins the national championships for the 11th time.
The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 225th birthday.
1900 1919 1948 1970 1996 2011 2029 The first Christmas tree that is decorated with electric lights is erected in front of Turku Cathedral.
Åbo Akademi University is established.
The production of Turun Sinappi Mustard is started.
The first Ruisrock festival is held.
Miss Finland Lola Odusoga from Turku becomes second runner-up of Miss Universe.
Turku is the European Capital of Culture.
Turku will be 800 years old.
City of Turku • P.O. box 355, FI-20101 Turku Tel: +358 (0)2 330 000 • turun.kaupunki@turku.fi www.turku.fi • www.visitturku.fi • www.businessturku.fi
02/2017, Printworks