Jäniksenlinna

Jäniksenlinna, also known as Hare Castle, is a small, historic island located in the Vyborg Bay, near the city of Vyborg in Russia. The island's name translates to "Hare's Castle" in Finnish. Historically, the area has been a strategic location, changing hands between various powers over centuries.

The island is most famously associated with a small, ruined fortification that once stood there. While no grand castle was ever built, the remains suggest a defensive structure, likely of a more modest nature, possibly a watchtower or a small outpost. The exact origins and purpose of this fortification are not definitively known, but it likely served a military or surveillance role in the past.

During the periods when Vyborg was under Swedish and later Finnish control, Jäniksenlinna would have been of considerable importance for observing and defending the approaches to the city. After the Soviet Union gained control of the region following World War II, the island and its ruins fell into disuse and decay.

Today, Jäniksenlinna is a relatively quiet and undeveloped island. The ruins are still visible, though they are heavily overgrown and have largely succumbed to nature. The island holds a certain historical allure for those interested in the complex and often contested history of the Vyborg region. It remains a reminder of the strategic importance of the Vyborg Bay throughout the ages.