Old Great Square (Turku)
Encyclopedia
The Old Great Square is a medieval market square
located in the city centre of Turku
, Finland
. It is located in the II District
in very close proximity to Turku Cathedral. The area was the administrative and commercial centre of Turku since the founding of the city in the 13th century up until the Great Fire of Turku
.
Today, there are buildings alongside the Old Great Square, only on the southern side because the blocks on the northern side changed to Porthaninpuisto after the fire. There are four historical buildings which the City of Turku restored for cultural use: the Brinkkala Mansion, Old Town Hall, Hjelt Mansion and Juselius Mansion. The buildings were mainly constructed after the fire and represents neoclassicism
.
at 12:00 since 1886. Prior to that, Christmas peace was proclaimed from the "doors and windows of the town hall" as the old saying went. The wooden balcony known as the Christmas peace balcony was added to the Brinkkala facade during renovations from 1884 to 1886. The earliest information about the Brinkkala Mansion are from the 16th century when it was a town house of the owner of Brinkhall Manor in Kakskerta
. Before its renovations from 1884 to 1886 it was a hotel, town hall and Turku police station. Nowadays, it is a space for art galleries and banquet halls. There is a coffee house located in the courtyard
. The Turku Medieval Market also takes place in the courtyard.
. A private house was built upon the walls of the badly destroyed building, this house being acquired by factory owner Juselius in the 1850s. The building was redone into a three story factory in 1899, which was active until the 1920s. In 1932, the building was acquired by the City of Turku, and was for police department use. Nowadays, it is a space for galleries and a banquet hall and concerts.
and the Turku Cultural Centre worked in the upstairs level. The library section moved to the new building of Turku Main Library
and the Turku Cultural Centre moved next door to the Old Town Hall.
Four Baltic sea
organsiations moved to the building at the beginning of 2008: UBC Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat, WHO Healthy Cities, Centrum Balticum and Valonia. The building was officially designated as the Itämeritalo ("Baltic Sea house") on 19 August 2008.
is a Swedish-language senior high school, built after the fire on the foundation of the former Hovrätt
by C.L. Engel
. Its style is empire. There reportedly was a school under the authority of Turku Cathedral in the Turku city centre in late 13th century called Turun katedraalikoulu.
is organised in June and July, stretching out to Porthaninpuisto, the courtyard and Luostarin Välikatu . Christmas City events also take place for three weekends as well as events for Turku Night of the Arts.
Market square
The market square is a feature of many European and colonial towns. It is an open area where market stalls are traditionally set out for trading, commonly on one particular day of the week known as market day....
located in the city centre of Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. It is located in the II District
II District, Turku
The II District is one of the central districts of Turku, Finland. It is located on the east side of the river Aura, between Uudenmaankatu and Kaskenkatu...
in very close proximity to Turku Cathedral. The area was the administrative and commercial centre of Turku since the founding of the city in the 13th century up until the Great Fire of Turku
Great Fire of Turku
The Great Fire of Turku was a conflagration that is still the largest urban fire in the history of Finland and the Nordic countries. The fires started burning on 4 September 1827 in Burgher Hellman’s house on Aninkaistenmäki slightly before 9 p.m...
.
Today, there are buildings alongside the Old Great Square, only on the southern side because the blocks on the northern side changed to Porthaninpuisto after the fire. There are four historical buildings which the City of Turku restored for cultural use: the Brinkkala Mansion, Old Town Hall, Hjelt Mansion and Juselius Mansion. The buildings were mainly constructed after the fire and represents neoclassicism
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
.
Historical buildings
Brinkkala Mansion
The Brinkala Mansion is best known for the traditional proclamation of Christmas peace, which has been given from the Brinkkala Mansion balcony each Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
at 12:00 since 1886. Prior to that, Christmas peace was proclaimed from the "doors and windows of the town hall" as the old saying went. The wooden balcony known as the Christmas peace balcony was added to the Brinkkala facade during renovations from 1884 to 1886. The earliest information about the Brinkkala Mansion are from the 16th century when it was a town house of the owner of Brinkhall Manor in Kakskerta
Kakskerta
Kakskerta is an island in the Archipelago Sea, south of the city of Turku, Finland. It is a former municipality and a current district of Turku. Like other islands in the Archipelago Sea, it has a large number of summer residences...
. Before its renovations from 1884 to 1886 it was a hotel, town hall and Turku police station. Nowadays, it is a space for art galleries and banquet halls. There is a coffee house located in the courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
. The Turku Medieval Market also takes place in the courtyard.
Old Town Hall
It is assumed that the City of Turku administrative centre was headquartered at the Old Town Hall since the 14th century. The most famous of the Turku town halls was the stone building planned by master bricklayer Samuel Berner, finished in 1736. Berner's town hall was destroyed by the fire of 1827, along with its bell towerBell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
. A private house was built upon the walls of the badly destroyed building, this house being acquired by factory owner Juselius in the 1850s. The building was redone into a three story factory in 1899, which was active until the 1920s. In 1932, the building was acquired by the City of Turku, and was for police department use. Nowadays, it is a space for galleries and a banquet hall and concerts.
Hjelt Mansion
After the fire, Captain Hjelt bought the site along the town square, and built the impressive two story stone building in 1830. The Hjelt Mansion is the only remaining stone building in Finland which clearly represents the St. Petersburg empire style. The Hjelt Mansion was taken over by the City of Turku in the 1930s, at which time both stories were used by the police department. After this, the downstairs level was a used as the children and young adults section of Turku City LibraryTurku City Library
Turku City Library is a municipal library service in Turku, Finland which includes 14 branch libraries and Turku Main Library which is located in the city centre of Turku and is a combination of new building and the old main library building . The old building was under renovation and reopened in...
and the Turku Cultural Centre worked in the upstairs level. The library section moved to the new building of Turku Main Library
Turku Main Library
Turku Main Library is the chief branch of Turku City Library, located in the city centre of Turku, Finland. The library is approximately 8,500 m².-Old building:...
and the Turku Cultural Centre moved next door to the Old Town Hall.
Four Baltic sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
organsiations moved to the building at the beginning of 2008: UBC Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat, WHO Healthy Cities, Centrum Balticum and Valonia. The building was officially designated as the Itämeritalo ("Baltic Sea house") on 19 August 2008.
Juselius Manor
The new renaissance Juselius Mansion, the newest of the buildings in the area. It was built by Carl Fredrik Juselius in 1892, originally as his home. It has been a residential building for city officials, space for the police depeartment and a dociros office. Nowadays, the building is used for other purposes such as the legendary restaurant Teini.Katedralskolan i Åbo
Katedralskolan i ÅboKatedralskolan i Åbo
Katedralskolan i Åbo is the Swedish-language senior high school of Turku, located at the Old Great Square ....
is a Swedish-language senior high school, built after the fire on the foundation of the former Hovrätt
Hovrätt
The Hovrätt was the highest judicial body in Sweden until Gustav III of Sweden founded the Supreme Court of Sweden in 1789. The first hovrätt, Svea hovrätt, was founded in 1614...
by C.L. Engel
Carl Ludvig Engel
Carl Ludvig Engel, or Johann Carl Ludwig Engel , was a German architect known for his neoclassical style. He had a great impact on the architecture of Finland in the first part of the 19th century....
. Its style is empire. There reportedly was a school under the authority of Turku Cathedral in the Turku city centre in late 13th century called Turun katedraalikoulu.
Events
There are different events organiased at the Old Great Square throughout the year. Turku Medieval MarketMedieval Market of Turku
The Medieval Market of Turku is an annual historical reenactment event organised in the historic city centre of Turku, Finland. It involves a handicrafts market in period costume at the Old Great Square, one of the city's oldest market squares, as well as a number of different open-air...
is organised in June and July, stretching out to Porthaninpuisto, the courtyard and Luostarin Välikatu . Christmas City events also take place for three weekends as well as events for Turku Night of the Arts.