Summer residence for a spa doctor...1896
Monday 07/06/10
Tomorrow we are leaving Mariehamn and will hopefully have three good days sailing before a low-pressure system, with its associated strong winds will reach the Åland Archipelago. That means that we have to find a good shelter for a few days. We are planning to take the Northern Route through the archipelago, not very frequented by most yachts cruising between Marienhamn and Helsinki.
A bit of history: Mariehamn was built by Tsar Alexander II in 1861 and named the town after his wife Maria Alexandrovna. It became a major center for the grain trade. The Åland Islands belonged to the provinces that Sweden relinquished to Russia, which became the semi-autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. In September 1809, the islands were ceded to Russia, and the Swedes were unable to secure a provision that the islands should not be fortified, which was important for Britain’s Baltic trade.
During the Crimean War, Anglo-French forces attacked and destroyed the Russian fortress of Bomarsund in 1854 which was erected against international law. By the Åland Convention, concluded between United Kingdom, France and Russia in 1856, it was concluded that "the Åland Islands shall not be fortified, and that no military or naval establishments shall be maintained or created on them."(after Wikipedia).
Tomorrow we are leaving Mariehamn and will hopefully have three good days sailing before a low-pressure system, with its associated strong winds will reach the Åland Archipelago. That means that we have to find a good shelter for a few days. We are planning to take the Northern Route through the archipelago, not very frequented by most yachts cruising between Marienhamn and Helsinki.
In the meantime we have spent two very pleasant days in Mariehamn with the best spot in the harbour for a photo opportunity together with the beautiful ÅSS (Åland Sailing Club) Paviljon which is also the best restaurant in town. The pavillon was designed by Lars Sonck in 1896 and was intended as a summer residence for the resident spa doctor – times have changed in the NHS since then…Tonight we dined there and could admire Easy Rider from the window.
A bit of history: Mariehamn was built by Tsar Alexander II in 1861 and named the town after his wife Maria Alexandrovna. It became a major center for the grain trade. The Åland Islands belonged to the provinces that Sweden relinquished to Russia, which became the semi-autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. In September 1809, the islands were ceded to Russia, and the Swedes were unable to secure a provision that the islands should not be fortified, which was important for Britain’s Baltic trade.
During the Crimean War, Anglo-French forces attacked and destroyed the Russian fortress of Bomarsund in 1854 which was erected against international law. By the Åland Convention, concluded between United Kingdom, France and Russia in 1856, it was concluded that "the Åland Islands shall not be fortified, and that no military or naval establishments shall be maintained or created on them."(after Wikipedia).