turku

Turku is a city in southwestern Finland, located at the mouth of the Aura River along the Archipelago Sea. It serves as the administrative and cultural center of Southwest Finland and is one of the country’s oldest urban areas.

Founded in the 13th century, Turku was the most important city in medieval Finland and served as the capital until 1812, when the government moved to Helsinki.

Landmarks include Turku Cathedral, a 13th‑century church that remains the seat of the Finnish Lutheran Church, and Turku Castle, a medieval fortress near the river. The city’s historic center and the nearby archipelago attract tourism.

Turku is home to the University of Turku (established in 1920; the university’s predecessor, the Royal Academy of Turku, was founded in 1640) and Åbo Akademi University (Swedish‑language, founded 1918). The economy combines education, services, and technology, with the Port of Turku handling passenger and freight traffic to the Archipelago and Sweden.

Turku is known for cultural institutions such as Turku Art Museum and for its role as a gateway to the Baltic Sea archipelago. In 2011 Turku and Tallinn jointly held the European Capital of Culture title. The city is served by Turku Airport and a railway network linking it with Helsinki and other cities.