A population of about 80,000, 30kms from the Finnish border, Vyborg sits as a gateway between the East Slavic and Finnish worlds, with the town ‘changing hands’ several times during history, mostly recently in 1944 when Stalin got it as part of WW11 reparations. The city hosts the end of the Nord Stream gas pipeline and operated by a consortia led by Russia’s Gazprom to pump billions of gas under the Baltic to Germany. Industrial paper production is the other important industry and tourism is growing. Its an important port and rail junction.

It’s dominated by a medieval castle and peppered with beautiful Finnish art nouveau buildings and cobblestone streets.

The castle was built by Swedes in the 13thC; with the main attraction now being to climb the many steps of St Olaf’s tower (closed when I visited) for commanding views over the town .

And the beautifully designed 1935 library by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto.

Circular skylights in the reading rooms and elegant birchwood shelves are among the many features.

Loved the moose sculpture in the adjacent gardens – the lilacs were out in bloom too.

The Clock Tower started life in 1494 as a simple bell tower of Vyborg’s Cathedral; then served as a fire watchtower. In the 18thC, was installed with a clock and Catherine 11 presented a warning bell to Vyborg, so it’s been chiming on the hour ever since.

The Round Tower in the Market Square used to be part of the town ramparts that guarded the town. A restaurant since 1923. School groups were out in force doing community service ‘clean ups’ in the Square, brushing up dust from the cobblestones and bagging it (not sure just how much actually made it into the bags!)….and these gals were giggling and leaning on their brooms, A LOT.

Wandered into Krasnaya Place square to behold another dramatic statue of Lenin, who’s been watching city life since 1957. People come to feed the pigeons and mothers allow their little darlings to practice car driving skills (needed as early as possible!)

Finally, discovered the oldest house in Vyborg, the 16thC Burger manor….built by the Swedes from granite boulders, with an attic, basement and thick walls; fortress-like in design but quiet small. Located on the oldest street in Vyborg, where in the Middle Ages, cattle were driven to pasture.