Guided Tour "Border to Border - Porkkala 1944–1956" (4,5 h)

Let's explore and get acquainted with a special era in Greater Helsinki Region: with the “Lease period of Porkkala”.

After the end of the War the USSR imposed, among other demands, one particular condition: the areas West of Helsinki were to be emptied of all population and leased to the USSR for 50 years, for the purpose of establishing a Soviet naval base. Finland had no choice but to agree and evacuated over 7000 people, over 8000 animals, Food and Supplies in a few days time. Against the expectation the USSR returned it already in 1956, due to geopolitical developments and high upkeep cost.

The Tour starts and ends in Kauklahti, Espoo. We travel in a minivan or in a bus comfortably through a beautiful landscape of the former Naval Base area. After almost 70 Years the lease time is still present but hidden in many historical layers throughout the Area. The Tour Guide unveils bunkers, trenches, sport stadions, railway tracks, airfields and describes memories of local People. Concrete samples of the Naval Base remindings will be visited in Kirkkonummi, Siuntio and Degerby.

The maximum group size is 33 people due to restrictions at the tour destinations. Minimum billing for 15 participants.

Tour includes visits to
Eliasvillan - a collection of sovjet artefacts and photographs
Kehla Stallcafé - Coffee and Landlords Stories
Sjundby Manor House -area with military orders written in Cyrillic script on the walls of the dairy house
Halvdels Artillery Bunker
Pikkala Triumphal Arch and General Sergei Kabanovs Artillery Road
Russian Cemetery in Kolsari