Medieval castles — stone and power

The castle was the seat of power and safety — from here provinces were ruled, taxes gathered and attackers held off. Finland's great stone castles rise from the Middle Ages: Turku Castle by the sea, Häme Castle a square of red brick on the lakeshore, and the ruins of Raseborg at the foot of their rock. Kings and prisoners have passed through their halls, and the thick walls still carry centuries of sieges, feasts and quiet winters.

This is the route into the Finland of castles: from the crown strongholds of the south-west coast to the watch-castles of the interior. Whether your interest is military history, architecture or simply the cool gloom of the vaults, we have gathered the places worth a stop — and a route that takes you to as many as possible in a single day.