Senate Square (Helsinki)

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The Senate Square on a winter morning

The Senate Square ( Finnish. Senaatintori , Swedish. Senatstorget ) is a square in the center of the Finnish capital Helsinki . It is located directly on Aleksanterinkatu , one of the main downtown streets, not far from the port.

With the buildings designed by Carl Ludwig Engel , Senate Square represents a unique classical ensemble. The north side is dominated by Helsinki Cathedral , the city's most famous landmark. On the east and west side there are two other structures designed by Engel: the old Senate building, which now houses the State Council, the Finnish government, and the main building of Helsinki University .

On the south side of the square are a number of older buildings, including the Sederholm House from 1757, the oldest stone building in downtown Helsinki, adjoining the square is the House of Knights (ritarihuone / riddarhuset), the former headquarters of the Finnish nobility and the University Museum.

Alexander II monument

The Alexander II monument

In the middle of the Senate Square is a monument to the Russian Tsar Alexander II, who was respected thanks to his pro-Finland policies .

After Alexander II was assassinated in 1881, the Finnish Grand Duke of Finland launched a competition in 1884 to create a monument to the Tsar on Senate Square. First place went to the design by the sculptor Johannes Takanen , the second to that of Walter Runeberg . The jury decided that both should work out the final design together. However, Takanen died in 1885, so that Runeberg was able to put the designs together on his own. The inauguration took place on April 29, 1894, Alexander's birthday.

The 10.67 m high monument is kept in the style of realism . The Tsar stands in the middle on a red granite base. He is shown in the uniform of a Finnish Guard officer, as he wore it in 1863 when he gave his speech in the Reichstag. Four allegorical groups of figures are placed around the base. The most popular allegory is the law . She holds a sword, is dressed in a bearskin and stands in front of a lion, the heraldic animal of Finland . It is often interpreted as the personification of Finland . Copies can be found in the House of Estates and in the old parliament building. The following are also shown: work as a farm worker couple; the peace than doves and agricultural designs surrounded goddess; the light holds a spectrometer as a symbol of the sciences and is accompanied by an angel with a lyre who represents art.

In 1899 the monument became the backdrop for protests by the people of Helsinki against the Russification of Finland through the policies of Tsar Nicholas II. Since gaining independence in 1917, nationalist circles have called for the monument to be demolished, which they see as a testimony to Russian oppression. In 1930, the center of Senate Square was proposed as a possible location for a memorial to Marshal of Finland and statesman Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim . Mannerheim did not receive a monument in Helsinki until 1960 on the boulevard named after him . The Alexander II monument is still in its original place.

This monument, as well as an equestrian statue in Sofia depicting the tsar as the liberator of Bulgaria and the Balkans from Ottoman domination, are the only monuments of Alexander II outside Russia.

Events

Many social events such as the appearance of "Santa Claus" (joulupukki) or political events are celebrated in this square. It is one of the city's main attractions for tourists.

building

Web links

Commons : Helsinki Senate Square  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Commons : Statue of Alexander II in Helsinki  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 60 ° 10 ′ 10 ″  N , 24 ° 57 ′ 9 ″  E