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| '''Lappeenranta''', or ''Villmanstrand'' in ], is a ] and ] that resides on the shore of the lake ] in South-Eastern ], about 30 km from the ] border. With 58,897 inhabitants Lappeenranta is the eleventh-largest city of Finland (December 31). The town was chartered in ] by Queen ], legitimizing the trade at the then popular marketplace of ]. | '''Lappeenranta''', or ''Villmanstrand'' in ], is a ] and ] that resides on the shore of the lake ] in South-Eastern ], about 30 km from the ] border. With 58,897 inhabitants Lappeenranta is the eleventh-largest city of Finland (December 31). The town was chartered in ] by Queen ], legitimizing the trade at the then popular marketplace of ]. | ||
| The city's main employers are: The City of Lappeenranta, ], South Karelia Central Hospital, ], Paroc, Nordkalk, VR-Group, Cloetta Fazer, The Armed Forces, Larox and Pola. | The city's main employers are: The City of Lappeenranta, ], South Karelia Central Hospital, ], Paroc, Nordkalk, VR-Group, Cloetta Fazer, The Armed Forces, Larox and Pola. | ||
Revision as of 23:58, 16 December 2004
Lappeenranta, or Villmanstrand in Swedish, is a city and municipality that resides on the shore of the lake Saimaa in South-Eastern Finland, about 30 km from the Russian border. With 58,897 inhabitants Lappeenranta is the eleventh-largest city of Finland (December 31). The town was chartered in 1649 by Queen Christina of Sweden, legitimizing the trade at the then popular marketplace of Lapvesi.
The city's main employers are: The City of Lappeenranta, UPM-Kymmene, South Karelia Central Hospital, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Paroc, Nordkalk, VR-Group, Cloetta Fazer, The Armed Forces, Larox and Pola.
The proximity of the Russian border is today clearly visible in the number of Russian tourists visiting the city. In fact, Saint Petersburg is closer (211 km) to Lappeenranta than Helsinki (221 km).
Tourism
Lappeenranta is known as a summer city, mostly due to its closeness to the lake Saimaa. In addition, its inland location means that summers tend to be warmer and winters colder than in the shore parts of the country.
Good places and events to visit are
- The old fort, with a number of museums and cafés.
- The harbour area, with beautiful lake scenery and cruises to Vyborg and the nearby Saimaa Canal.
- The water tower, which gives a good view all over the city.
- The central market place, where you can enjoy the local specialities - meat pies known as "Atomi" (atom) or "Vety" (hydrogen).
- The Night of The Fort, a two-day cultural festival in early August.
- A yearly singing contest, the Lappeenranta National Singing Contest.