Urban national park
The urban national park of Porvoo was inaugurated in May 2010. The park comprises the area at the mouth of the River Porvoonjoki, which is valuable both for its cultural heritage and for its natural beauty. Its long history of habitation and culture has left visible marks on the landscape. The park also includes important areas with ancient monuments and historic urban areas, long-established park and recreational areas and nature conservation areas.
Architectural Map of Porvoo
The buildings in the Porvoo region are exceptionally old compared with the rest of Finland. There are many areas of interest, in terms of both the history of the built environment and also later architecture. The architectural map, which shows examples of complete areas and buildings from different eras,
is available either in Finnish or Swedish, and can be bought from the Tourist Office.
Parks of Porvoo
The largest parks in Porvoo’s leafy centre are on either side of the Market Square, Kaupunginpuisto and Runebergin puisto. The green belt continues over the pedestrian bridge to the western bank of the river, where August Eklöf park was opened in autumn 2009. This is also the location of the “monument” erected for the bicentenary of the Diet of Porvoo. You can actually go inside this monument, a gazebo, whose filigree-like walls illustrate stories from 200 years back. How many of them are there…?
A visit to Linnamäki, Castle Hill, with its moats reminding us of the 14th century fortress, is a memorable experience. In the nearby Maari Bay Porvoo’s first trading place was situated. Nowadays it’s a popular green area favoured by both Porvoo inhabitants and nightingales. Along the river banks meanders a strip of park right down to the boat docking area, and on the way you will find
many cafés to stop for a break.
One of the most traditional parks is the Ruusupuisto or Rose Park in front of the
Borgå Gymnasium upper secondary school. During restoration work a children’s
playground was built here.