Kuninkaanportti

Kuninkaanportti (Finnish for "the king's gate") is the principal entrance to Suomenlinna. It is on the southernmost island of Suomenlinna, in front of the Kustaanmiekka strait, and is considered as the main symbol of Suomenlinna.

The gate was constructed from 1753 to 1754 at the place where King Adolf Frederick of Sweden anchored his ship when he was coming to inspect the construction of the fortress. The name "the king's gate" comes from this.

The gate is a typical fortress gate with cannon openings. There are wide stairs leading to the gate, but in front of the gate is a drawbridge and a wide pit at both sides, to hinder climbing into the fortress.

The gate was featured in the 1000 Finnish mark note in the last ever series, from 1986 to 2001.

As a decoration, the sides of the gate feature four stone tablets, the most famous of which bears a quote from the designer of the fortress, Augustin Ehrensvärd, in Swedish:

"Eftervärld, stå här på egen botn, och lita icke på främmande hielp." ("Progeny, stand here on your own foundation, and do not rely on foreign help.")

External links

* [http://www.suomenlinna.fi/index.php?menuid=36&lang=fin Kuninkaanportti at the Suomenlinna home page]
* [http://www.edu.fi/oppimateriaalit/suomenlinna/Finnish/Rasti1/taustaa.htm Kuninkaanportti at the ministry of education]