Visiting Helsinki | Esplanadi ⛲
Besides going to museums, parks in Europe are always very nice to visit. The park that we visited in Helsinki is Esplanadi, in which the statues reflect a lot on the history of Finland.
Esplanadi
Locaiton: Pohjoisesplanadi, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Esplanadi, colloquially known as “Espa”, is an urban park in central Helsinki, Finland. It was the first attraction we saw in Helsinki. What’s special about this park? Isn’t it just a park? If you take a closer look at the statue and history of this park, you can indeed learn more about the significant figures in Finland and some of the history behind it.
Let’s start with the design of this park. Esplanadi, is an esplanade, designed by the German architect Carl Ludwig Engel, who also designed the Helsinki Cathedral, the Helsinki City Hall, and the main building of Helsinki University. Indeed, just in the corner of Esplanadi, there is a small wooden house named the Engels Teater (‘Engel Theatre’), which was used actively between 1827 and 1860. The park was opened in 1818. In the center of the park is the status of Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1904–1877), a Finland national poet and the author of the Finland national anthem. This art piece was actually sculpted by his son Walter Runeberg. The statue depicted him at the age of 55, dressed in a priest’s coat. At the base of the pedestal, a young woman draped in bearskin, representing the Maiden of Finland, stands. In Runeberg’s native tongue, Swedish, she holds a laurel wreath and an inscription with the words of three verses of the Finnish national anthem.
Nearby the statue, you can see there are four historic kiosks. The ornate wooden kiosks on the southern side were constructed in 1893 and 1909, while the utilitarian kiosks on the northern side were designed in 1928 by City Architect Gunnar Taucher.
Not only these, one of the most historic restaurants in Helsinki, Kappeli, is in Esplanadi. The restaurant is divided into 3 parts, fine dining, cafe, and bar. So, you may enjoy a Kahvi (‘coffee’) with a pula (sweet bun topped with vanilla icing) when you just want to take your time in this beautiful city. The outer design of this restaurant is stunning and it was designed by architect Hampus Dahlström, built in 1867.
Facing Kappeli is the Espa Stage, hosting concerts throughout the summer season, spanning from early May to late August. Flanking the stage on both sides are pools featuring sculptures crafted by Viktor Jansson (1886–1958). “Water Nymphs” captures a mermaid and child engaging in playful interaction with a fish, while “Hey There” (“Hi”) portrays a small boy similarly playing with a fish. Guess what! Trove Jansson, Viktor Jansson’s daughter and the author of Moomin, actually stood as a model for the mermaid in the “Water Nymphs”.
At the Mannerheimintie end of the park, Restaurant Teatteri and Svenska Teatern (Swedish Theatre) stand prominently. Two memorials are situated in this area. The first commemorates the author, journalist, and historian Zacharias Topelius (1818–1898), whose extensive literary output, spanning novels, poems, and historical works, played a crucial role in fostering a distinct Finnish national identity. The second memorial pays tribute to the esteemed Finnish poet and journalist Eino Leino (1878–1926), whose profound impact on Finnish literature extended beyond poetry, as he also contributed significantly to cultural and societal discussions, advocating for social justice and human rights.
It is interesting to check out and I also know that Finnish students celebrate Walpurgis Night in the park as well. It serves as a festive occasion to bid farewell to winter, welcome spring, and foster a sense of community and renewal.
Indeed, the Old Market Square is just right next to it and it is also a cool place to check out (let’s talk about it next week). There are also multiple attractions nearby, so, during my stay, I almost passed by this park every day. I guess it would be so nice to sit there when it is not in winter!
