Hamina, Cultural Heritage Site in Kymenlaakso, Finland
Hamina is a town in southeastern Finland known for its distinctive circular street pattern, with roads radiating outward from six bastions toward the center. The entire downtown consists of wooden buildings arranged along this geometric system, situated on the Baltic Sea coast.
The town was founded in 1653 and took its present shape following the Russo-Swedish War of 1741-1743, when this territory came under Russian control. The bastions and radial street layout emerged as part of this military and strategic redesign.
The town's layout dates to the 18th century and features a distinctive radial street pattern radiating from six bastions. The wooden buildings that line these streets show how residents continue to inhabit and use these historical structures in their daily lives.
The downtown area is compact and easy to explore on foot, as the radial street pattern makes navigation straightforward from any direction. The best time to visit is during fair weather when you can clearly see the wooden architecture and facade details.
A major technology company operates a large data center from a converted former pulp mill in the town. This fusion of historical industrial buildings with modern computing infrastructure shows how legacy facilities can serve entirely new purposes.
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