Old Great Square, Turku
The Old Great Square is a medieval market square in Turku city center. It served as the administrative and commercial center from the 13th century until the Great Fire of Turku in 1827. The square is surrounded by several historic buildings in the Neoclassic architectural style preserved by the city. They are mostly used for cultural events.
Old Great Square houses the Old Town Hall, designed and built by architect Samuel Berner in 1736. The Old Town Hall was destroyed in the fire of 1827. On the ramparts of the old building was built a private house. It was remodeled into a factory and later used as a police department. Today it hosts events and concerts along with an art gallery.
Brikkala Mansion, another building in the Old Great Square, is a former hotel that now functions as an art gallery with banquet halls and a courtyard coffee house. There is also Hjelt Mansion, built for sea captain Hjelt, and the only surviving stone Petersburg Empire architectural-style building in Finland. The Hjelt Mansion has served as a private home, police department, library, and cultural center.
Juselius Mansion is the youngest of the Old Great Square buildings. It is a New Renaissance-style mansion built by Carl Fredrik Juselius in 1892 as a residential building. Over the years, the Juselius Mansion has had many different occupants. The Mayor of Turku has lived there, and doctors have kept their practices in the building. Among the others, a restaurant opened in the Juselius Mansion鈥檚 cellar in 1924, which became a popular meeting place for artists, students, and academics. The legendary restaurant was closed in 1963 and reopened after 30 years in 1993.
Old Great Square houses the Old Town Hall, designed and built by architect Samuel Berner in 1736. The Old Town Hall was destroyed in the fire of 1827. On the ramparts of the old building was built a private house. It was remodeled into a factory and later used as a police department. Today it hosts events and concerts along with an art gallery.
Brikkala Mansion, another building in the Old Great Square, is a former hotel that now functions as an art gallery with banquet halls and a courtyard coffee house. There is also Hjelt Mansion, built for sea captain Hjelt, and the only surviving stone Petersburg Empire architectural-style building in Finland. The Hjelt Mansion has served as a private home, police department, library, and cultural center.
Juselius Mansion is the youngest of the Old Great Square buildings. It is a New Renaissance-style mansion built by Carl Fredrik Juselius in 1892 as a residential building. Over the years, the Juselius Mansion has had many different occupants. The Mayor of Turku has lived there, and doctors have kept their practices in the building. Among the others, a restaurant opened in the Juselius Mansion鈥檚 cellar in 1924, which became a popular meeting place for artists, students, and academics. The legendary restaurant was closed in 1963 and reopened after 30 years in 1993.
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Old Great Square on Map
Sight Name: Old Great Square
Sight Location: Turku, Finland (See walking tours in Turku)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Turku, Finland (See walking tours in Turku)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Turku, Finland
Create Your Own Walk in Turku
Creating your own self-guided walk in Turku is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Turku Introduction Walking Tour
Turku is the oldest city in Finland. The city served as the capital of Finland from September 1809 through April 1812. It is a popular tourist destination because of its long history and impact on Finnish culture.
The name "Turku" derives from the Slavic word for marketplace. Not surprisingly, Turku has popular markets like those held at the Turku Old Market Hall and Market Square.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
The name "Turku" derives from the Slavic word for marketplace. Not surprisingly, Turku has popular markets like those held at the Turku Old Market Hall and Market Square.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Turku's Architectural Jewels
The oldest city in Finland, Turku, has several attractive old buildings that catch the eye and showcase the city's rich history and culture.
Prime among such jewels are the Turku Orthodox Church, characterized by its distinctive onion-shaped domes, the historic neoclassical Swedish-language Abo Svenska Theater, and the beautiful late 19th-century Turku Old Market Hall (Turun Kauppahalli).... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Prime among such jewels are the Turku Orthodox Church, characterized by its distinctive onion-shaped domes, the historic neoclassical Swedish-language Abo Svenska Theater, and the beautiful late 19th-century Turku Old Market Hall (Turun Kauppahalli).... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles