Vyborg is one of the most beautiful cities in the Leningrad Region, which is located on the Karelian Isthmus, on the peninsulas, the coast and the skerries of the Vyborg Bay. It belongs to those cities, the history of which was formed with the participation of several peoples. The city was founded by the Swedes in the 13th century during one of their crusades to the land of the Karelians. In the 18th century, it was taken by the troops of Peter the Great. However, at the beginning of the 19th century, the city became part of Finland. After a century and a half, it again became part of Russia.
Despite the fact that the size of Vyborg is rather modest, there is something to see in it. It is a quiet European-style city with narrow cobbled streets. First of all, you should visit the Vyborg Castle. It rises right in the middle of the strait on a tiny rocky island just over 1.5 kilometers long and only 122 meters wide. The castle has been rebuilt several times over the course of seven centuries. There is an observation deck on it, from its height an amazing panorama of Vyborg opens. Today, the castle houses a local history museum. The second most important attraction of the city is the Clock Tower. It stands not on a traditional foundation, but on a huge boulder. From its observation deck you can see Finland, which is just a stone's throw from Vyborg. Mon Repos Park is another colorful attraction of this city, without which the impression of it will be incomplete. This is a rocky park located on a fairly picturesque island, which is located two kilometers from Vyborg. It covers an area of 50 hectares. Its wild beauty - green meadows with small groves and high cliffs, narrow bays and bridges thrown across them, amazes even experienced tourists. It is worth seeing firsthand the Annensky fortifications - an example of fortifications of the 18th century. They have survived to this day with almost no modernization and all sorts of rebuildings. The so-called Round Tower is located on the Market Square of the city. The time of its construction dates back to the 16th century. It was in it that at one time the Swedish king Charles IX and Vasily Shuisky signed the Vyborg Treaty, according to which the Swedes were to help Russia in the war against the Polish invaders. Subsequently, this tower was used as an arms warehouse, a customs building, an explosives store, a field kitchen and a prison. They wanted to demolish it several times, but it still survived to this day. Now it houses a restaurant where you can taste salmon pancakes, spiced lamb ribs and champagne tiger prawns.
