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...taken during February 1997...

Viborg - the only swedish city in Russia - just a visit

Pt
2004-01-25 15:46:27

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Then I was at annual high energy physics in Repino (elite suburb of St.Petersburg) organised by St.Petersburg Institute of Nuclear Physics (in Gathina) I took the opportunity and went into Viborg.

Viborg is situated some 120 km north-west from St-Petersburg. It was founded during swedish colonisation of Finland and taken by Russian empire during Peter I times. After October Revolution it became Finnish and was named something like Viypuri. Then after Soviet-Finish conflict (or WWII) it again was taken by Soviet Union and it is Russian city by now. Most of the population working in port, shipbuilding (they builds ever sea oil platforms), wood-paper industry, custom and border quard.

Pic 1: The first surprise hapened then I've spot the monument for the founder of that city - swedish warlord Torgils Knutson. His name written in latin letters stilised like runic. Funny coincedence: then I first arrived in Sweden I've lived in a flat and the owner's name was Torgils too (but the family name is different). He was very pleased to see that photos about Viborg and city founder.
The old Torgils who founded Viborg was the leader of the Second North Crusade (it is another suprise - I thought Crusades were officially proposed by Catholic church only against Arabs in Orient and connected with Jerusalem). The founder of Viborg conqured a big part of Finland for swedish crown in the middle of XIII century. So, one can see that after Christianisation Vikings still loved raids but under holy sertificate of church (which always can be bought).
The importance of Viborg in medival times can be illustrated by the fact that one of swedish kings, founder of Vasa dynasty, Gustavus Vasa was ruler of Viborg before he was elected as the king of Sweden which he libereted from Danish rule and Catholic church (by making furious Reformation). He was a very interesting man since his childhood: I've seen a picture in Uppsala Upplands ...

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