Ancient Greek philosophy is considered the ancestor of all European philosophy. From the time of its appearance (7th century BC), it immediately differed from the eastern one. First of all, because the latter relied on the idea of ​​despotic rule, supported the cult of ancestors, honored their customs and did not at all contribute to the development of free thought. What factors shaped ancient Greek philosophy? By what schools, philosophers and ideas was it represented? Let's take a closer look in the article.

Peculiarities

First of all, let's talk about what was the impetus for the active development of philosophy in ancient Greece. The main factors were:

• the transition from a tribal system to a special type of political system - a policy where democracy reigned;
• increase in contacts with other peoples and civilizations, acceptance of their experience and its transformation;
• development of scientific knowledge, trade and crafts;
• the transformation of mental labor into a special kind of activity.

All these prerequisites contributed to the formation of a free personality, which had its own opinion. Actively developed such qualities as: craving for knowledge, the ability to reflect and draw conclusions, sharpness of mind. The desire for philosophizing was also supported by the principle of competitiveness, which was applied not only in sports competitions, but also in intellectual disputes and discussions of various kinds.

At the beginning of the development of ancient Greek philosophy, its connection with mythology is very clearly visible. They asked the same questions:

• where did the world come from;
• how it exists;
• who governs nature.

However, mythology and philosophy have a very significant difference - the latter tries to find a rational explanation for everything, to comprehend the world around us through the mind. Therefore, it is thanks to its development that new questions arise:

• why it happens this way;
• what is the cause of a certain phenomenon;
• what is truth.

The answer required a different way of thinking - critical. A thinker relying on such a form of cognition of the world must question absolutely everything. It should be noted that, at the same time, the veneration of the gods is preserved until the very last period of the development of ancient Greek thought, when pantheism begins to be actively replaced by the Christian religion.

periodization

Researchers believe that ancient Greek philosophy went through several periods in its development:

1. Dosocratic - it lasted until the 5th century. BC. The most famous schools of that time were the Milesian and the Elean.
2. Classical - lasted one century until the 4th century. BC. It is considered the heyday of ancient Greek thought. It was then that Socrates lived, and.
3. Hellenistic - ended in 529, when Emperor Justinian closed the last Greek philosophical school - the Platonic Academy.

Not much information about the activities of the first ancient Greek philosophers has come down to our days. So, we get a lot of information from the works of other, later thinkers, primarily Plato and Aristotle.

Unites all periods, perhaps, the type of philosophizing, which is called cosmocentric. This means that the thinking of the sages of ancient Greece was directed to the world around and nature, their origin and relationship. In addition, for cognition, the abstraction method was used, by which concepts were formed. They were used to be able to describe objects, listing their properties and qualities. Also, the ancient Greeks were able to generalize all the scientific theories already known to them, observations of nature and the achievements of science and culture.

Let us consider in more detail the most important ancient Greek schools (or directions) of philosophy.

natural philosophers

For the most part, representatives of the Milesian school belong to this direction. The world was considered by them as a living and indivisible whole. In it, all the things around people were animated: some - to a greater extent, others - to a lesser extent.

Their main goal was to search for the origin of being (“What everything comes from and everything consists of”). At the same time, natural philosophers could not agree on which of the elements to consider the main one. For example, Thales considered water to be the beginning of everything. At the same time, a representative of the same direction named Anaximenes gave primacy to air, and to fire.

Eleatics

This direction is also called Eleatic. Among his famous followers: Zeno and Parmenides. Their teaching became the impetus for the development of idealism in the future. They denied the possibility of movement and change, believing that only being really exists. It is eternal, unique and frozen in place, it cannot be destroyed either.

It was the Eleatics who were the first to discover that there are things that exist in reality and are comprehended by thinking, and there are those that can only be known by feelings.

Atomistic school

It was its founder. He believed that there is not only being, but also non-being, and our whole world consists of the smallest particles - atoms. They differ from each other in shape, size, position and form bodies. The world, objects and phenomena a person sees with his eyes. And atoms cannot be considered by “feelings”, this can be done only by the mind.

classic direction

Within the framework of this school, attention should be paid to prominent figures of that time: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

1. Socrates is a philosopher who first raised the question of a person as a person who has a conscience and a certain set of values:

• he insists on the importance of self-knowledge, since it is this that forms the path to the achievement of the highest true good;
• each person has a mind, with the help of which all concepts are comprehended. That is, for example, kindness or courage cannot be taught to another. He must do it on his own, reflecting, identifying, remembering.

1. Plato was the one who actually founded objective idealism:

• his main idea is that ideas are prototypes of all existing things. He calls them models. Thus, for example, we can say that all chairs have some common ideal pattern of what we call a "chair";
• the philosopher believed that the state is unfair and imperfect, since it is based on the subjective opinions of its rulers;
• the thinker divides the being into the world of things (untrue) and the world of ideas (true). Objects arise, change, collapse and disappear. Ideas, on the other hand, are eternal.

1. Aristotle was the most talented student of Plato, which did not prevent him from criticizing the ideas of his teacher. An inquisitive mind and a broad outlook allowed the thinker to engage in logic, psychology, politics, economics, rhetoric and many other then known teachings. By the way, it was Aristotle who first classified the sciences into theoretical and practical. Here are his main ideas:

• being is a unity of form and matter, the latter is what things consist of, it can take on any form;
• the constituents of matter are the standard elements (fire, air, water, earth and ether), they form objects known to us in various combinations;
• It was Aristotle who first formulated some of the laws of logic.

Hellenistic direction

Hellenism is often divided into early and late. It is considered the longest period in the history of ancient Greek philosophy, capturing even the beginning of the Roman stage. At this time, a person’s search for consolation and reconciliation with the new reality comes to the fore. Ethical issues become important. So, what schools appeared in the specified period.

1. Epicureanism - representatives of this direction considered pleasure the goal of all life. However, it was not about sensual pleasure, but about something sublime and spiritual, inherent only to sages who are able to overcome the fear of death.
2. Skepticism - its followers showed distrust of all "truths" and theories, believing that they need to be tested scientifically and empirically.
3. Neoplatonism is, in a sense, a mixture of the teachings of Plato and Aristotle with Eastern traditions. The thinkers of this school sought to achieve unity with God through the practical methods they created.

Results

Thus, ancient Greek philosophy existed and developed for about 1200 years. It still has a strong influence of mythology, although it is considered the first conceptual system in which thinkers tried to find a rational explanation for all the surrounding phenomena and things. In addition, the “free” thinking of the inhabitants of the ancient city-states, or policies, contributed to its rise. Their inquisitive mind, interest in nature and the world allowed the ancient philosophy of Greece to lay the foundations for the development of all European philosophy as a whole.

Finland is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, bordering Sweden, Russia, Norway, and Estonia. About 25% of the country's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. The history of Finland, according to archaeological and chronicle evidence, began many centuries ago. The toponym "Finnland" was discovered by linguists in such a monument of literature as the "Saga of the Ynglings", written in the 13th century. in Old Norse. The Swedes called this the territory where the tribes of the Finns lived. The self-name of their land was slightly different - Suomi or Sum (recorded in the annals of Novgorod in the 12th century). Before the arrival of the Finns, the country was inhabited by the ancient Sami or Suomi tribes, who now live in the Lapland region. Therefore, they began to call their land Suomi. According to another version, the Finns began to call their land that way because of the large number of swamps.

The area finally began to be called Finland only in the 15th century, when there was no single state. These were disparate associations that differed from each other in political, economic and cultural terms. The lack of unity between state formations contributed to the fact that Sweden owned Finland for several centuries, then Russia. The formation of the Finns' identity under the influence of external factors was faster and completed by the end of the 18th century. The population and its leaders understood that it was necessary to create their own country, but at the beginning of the 19th century. the territory of the state was annexed as an autonomy to the Russian Empire.

The independent period in the history of Finland began only after the October Revolution, and took place in several stages. Only after the collapse of the Soviet Union did the state get a chance for independent development without the intervention of other countries. Thanks to successful reforms in various areas, Finland joined the European Union in 1995.

Settlement of Finland

Archaeologists say that the settlement of the Finnish part of the Scandinavian Peninsula began in the Stone Age, as soon as the glacier began to recede. This version is confirmed by artifacts found in the region of Southern Finland. But in the mid-1990s historians have made a unique discovery in Western Finland. The Wolf Cave is located there, where traces of Neanderthals were found. The age of the finds varies within 40 thousand years. Neanderthals lived in the region of Lake Ladoga, the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, gathered berries, hunted, and fished.

Scientists cannot exactly establish what language the ancient representatives of Finland spoke. It is possible that they used one of the languages ​​of the Uralic language family, which at that time was common in Scandinavia, the Baltics, and the European part of Russia.

The population of Finland was sparse, since migration from the other part of the continent practically did not reach the peninsula.

The formation of an ethnic group took place under the influence of several archaeological cultures, among which the most common were:

• Pit-comb ceramics;
• Battle axes.

The first culture was brought to Finland by the Ural-speaking tribes, and the second by the Indo-Europeans.

On the territory of modern Finland, three ethnic groups gradually formed:

• Karelians, who lived in the southeastern regions, up to Lake Ladoga;
• Tavasts who lived in the historical area of ​​Yem. These are the middle and eastern regions of Finland;
• Suomi / sum, who occupied the southwestern part of Finland.

By the beginning of our era, the Finnish language also arose, which was spoken by representatives of these ethnic groups. Each of them had its own dialect, but due to the isolated residence, a single language could not form.

Finns before the arrival of the Vikings

The ancient Romans already paid attention to the Finnish tribes, who, through their conquests, expanded the boundaries of their empire. In 98 AD, the Roman historian Tacitus, in his essay "Germania", wrote about the inhabitants of Finland, calling her Fenny. It was indicated that the tribes were on a primitive path of development - they are engaged in gathering, fishing, sleeping on the ground, sewing clothes from animal skins. The ancient Finns made all the tools of labor from bone and wood; they did not yet know iron at the beginning of our era. Tacitus wrote that Finns and Sami tribes lived in the region.

Until the 5th c. AD, the population in the region increased gradually, since nature and climatic conditions interfered with other crafts, except for gathering and fishing. The Finns also got their food with the help of hunting. In the 5th c. the situation gradually began to change, which was associated with the spread of agriculture, the domestication of animals. This allowed people to move to a more sedentary way of life, which resulted in an increase in the number of inhabitants in Finland. There were serious changes in social life - the stratification of society began, separate classes appeared, from which the elite emerged. The tribes were already ruled by leaders, in whose hands was all power. The territory of modern Finland has always been unevenly populated, but the following trends were traced in the disposition of peoples:

• The Saami lived in the north, northwest, constantly migrated, led a nomadic way of life. Food was obtained by hunting and fishing. The Saami migration areas were vast territories where the tribes were looking for food;
• The southwestern coast of the Baltic Sea, the banks of the Kumo River, and the lakes that fed the river were inhabited by settled tribes. The main occupation was agriculture;
• The Åland Islands were settled by North Germanic tribes.

During the 8th-11th centuries. Significant changes have taken place in the life of the Finnish population, among which it is worth noting such as:

• The warming caused rapid population growth and improved farming practices;
• The northeastern and northern shores of Lake Ladoga began to be populated. From the south, the reservoir was inhabited by the Slavs;
• The Finns began to encounter the Vikings from time to time, who began to build settlements and points for trade on the Baltic coast. Strong assimilation did not happen, since the Vikings lived on the coast, and the Finns chose the forest part. But the penetration of some elements from the culture of the Vikings into society, life and the political system of the Finns did happen.

Swedish period: 11th-15th centuries

The stay of Finland under the influence of the Vikings, and then the Swedes, lasted more than seven centuries, starting from 1104 and continuing until 1809. The colonization of this part of the Scandinavian Peninsula took place in order to curb the commercial expansion of Veliky Novgorod.

First, the Vikings settled in Sweden, and then began to colonize the Åland Islands. When in the 12th century the Kingdom of Sweden arose, the rulers of which expanded the borders of the state. The presence of strong royal power contributed to the strengthening of the influence of the Swedes in Finland, who created in the 12th century. two archbishoprics in two Swedish cities - Uppsala and Lund. The Catholic faith became a tool in the struggle against the political influence of Veliky Novgorod, as well as against the Holy Roman Empire.

The Swedes organized into Finland during the 12th-14th centuries. three crusades:

• The first took place in 1157;
• The second - in 1249-1250;
• The third - 1293-1300.

In 1300, the Landskron fortress was built on the banks of the Neva River, near which hostilities between the Swedes and Novgorodians constantly took place. A peace treaty between the opponents was signed in 1323, establishing the eastern border of Sweden. Most of the territory of Finland fell under the rule of the kingdom and the Catholic Church, and the cities of Naantali, Pori, Rauma, Porvo received city rights.

From the middle of the 14th century the Finns began to take part in the choice of the king of Sweden, which testified to the transformation of Finland into a full-fledged province of the country. All of Finland at the same time became the property of Bu Jonsson, the chancellor of the kingdom, who contributed to the rise to power of Albrecht of Mecklenburg.

From the end of the 14th century Sweden signed the Kalmar Union, signed in 1397 by Denmark, Sweden and Norway. It lasted until 1523, and during its existence, reforms were carried out in Finland. Their initiators were Eric Pomeranian, King of Sweden. He paid special attention to the judiciary:

• The laws by which criminals were judged, conflicts in trade were sorted out;
• The province was divided into southern and northern judicial districts.

Since 1323, the province within Sweden has been divided into several parts:

• Western Karelia;
• Alandia;
• Finland;
• Satakunta;
• Tavastlandia;
• Nylandia.

All castles, including Abossky, Vyborgsky and Kronoborgsky, in the province were given to the Swedes, who became the owners of lands, villages, and their inhabitants. But fiefdom was not hereditary. All power in Finland also belonged to the Swedes, who occupied the highest and lowest administrative positions. All legal proceedings and documentation were conducted in Swedish, which remained a stranger to the Finns. They continued to speak in their native language. Finland was planted not only by nobles, but also by representatives of the clergy. Bishops and monasteries also owned land in the provinces and sent missions to outlying areas. Despite the fact that the church had great power, Catholicism did not spread much among the local population. The Finns were more successful in accepting the ideas of the Reformation, without putting up any resistance to it. Due to this, in the 16-17 centuries. the New Testament and the Bible were translated into Finnish, which contributed to the development of national culture and self-consciousness, writing and literature.

The culture and traditions of Sweden penetrated the Finnish political system and the life of the population of the province, but it was not possible to completely eradicate the ancient culture of the Finns and the Sami. They still worshiped pagan gods, adhered to the cult of ancestors.

Finland in the 16th-18th centuries

In 1523, Gustav Vasa became the king of Sweden, who began active transformations in Finland:

• Allowed to colonize the northern lands that were uninhabited. This territory was declared the property of the king. All lands in the north and northwest were completely captured by the Swedes, the local population began to pay taxes to the king;
• Centralized the economic system, streamlining taxation and financial management;
• The economy was controlled by the Swedish crown, which completely destroyed the feudal system;
• Church property was confiscated;
• Created new trading colonies.

The dominance of the Swedes did not suit the Finnish nobility, who sought to secede from the kingdom. But these attempts did not find support among the population, since it suffered from taxes and extortions from aristocrats. Therefore, they saw in the king a real defender of their own interests. In order to prevent the development of Finnish separatism, Gustav Vasa granted his son Johan the right to become the Duke of Finland, who tried to secede from Sweden after the death of his father. The internecine struggle continued until 1568, when Johan the Third became king. In 1577, he decided to create a Grand Duchy from Finland, which received its own coat of arms. It had a picture of a lion on it. Four years later, Johan the Third included the title of the Grand Duchy of Finland in the royal title.

The death of the king caused new feuds within the country, during which Finland practically separated from Sweden. Its ruler was the wealthy Finn Klass Fleming, who held the position of stadtholder.

During his reign, an uprising of peasants broke out in the northeastern regions, who were dissatisfied with the oppression of the aristocrats. The riots were suppressed by Fleming, and the leaders were executed. Fleming's policy of separating the province from Sweden was continued by Arvid Stolarm, who until the end of the 16th century. opposed the Swedish king Charles. In 1599, the separatism of the Finns was crushed, the province again fell under the influence of the crown. In order to prevent new manifestations of discontent, the policy of centralization in Finland has increased significantly. The recalcitrant Finns were heavily taxed, and the Swedes continued to occupy administrative positions.

Under Gustav the Second Adolf, the Finns began to take part in the work of local authorities, served in the army. But the population of Karelia was dissatisfied with the Swedish autocracy, so they tried to find support for the Russian troops, which in 1656 entered Karelia. The campaign was unsuccessful, because of which the local population began to migrate en masse to the border regions of Russia. The deserted lands were settled by people from the interior regions of Finland.

During the 17th century The development of the province was marked by such events:

• Appeared due to the governor-general, who limited the abuse of power by the Swedes;
• A university was founded in the city of Abo;
• A reduction was carried out, in which the nobles received state lands. They were transferred partly on the rights of a lifetime lease and partly in a lifetime possession. The reduction filled the treasury, transferred vast land territories under the rule of Sweden;
• Church literacy began to spread among the population. People learned to read, less often to write;
• Huge demographic losses - the death of more than 25% of the population - were caused by famine, which spread in the provinces at the end of the 17th century.

End of Swedish rule

The northern war that Sweden waged with Russia for the right to access the Baltic Sea did not concern the Finns in the first years. But from 1710, Peter the Great gave the order to conduct military operations on the territory of Finland, which was conquered four years later. Under the terms of the Nishtadt peace treaty, Russia received Karelia, Estonia, Livonia and Ingermanland.

After the defeat in the Northern War, the Civil Code (1734) was adopted in the province, and the land issue was settled. The Swedish language, traditions and customs were accepted by the nobility, but not by the population of the province. This was decided to take advantage of Elizaveta Petrovna, who promised the Finns independence if they during the war of 1741-1743. will come under the control of the Russian Empire. But the Finns did not respond to the call of the Empress, but managed to significantly expand the borders of their state in the region of Finland.

At the end of the 1780s. a conspiracy arose among Finnish officers and aristocrats, who received the support of Catherine II. While the ruler was thinking, the separatists were discovered and executed. The fate of Finland was decided when the Napoleonic Wars began in Europe. In 1807, Emperor of the Russian Empire Alexander the First and Napoleon the First met in Tilsit, who granted Russia the right to take the province from Sweden. The new war lasted two years - from 1808 to 1809. - and ended with the transition of vast Finnish territories under Russian rule.

Alexander the First issued a manifesto on the accession of Finland. In September 1809, the Peace of Friedrichsgam was signed, under the terms of which Russia received Finland, the Aland Islands, and Västerbotten.

History of Finland as part of Russia

The province received within the empire the status of the Grand Duchy of Finland, which had the rights of autonomy. To the characteristic features of the development of Finland in 1809-19017. relate:

• Preservation of the Lutheran faith, the church;
• The presence of its own government, which was called the Senate;
• The post of Minister of State Secretary, who represented the affairs of the principality before the emperor, was retained;
• Karelia was included in Finland;
• The capital of the principality was the city of Helsinki, which was rebuilt into a new administrative, political and commercial center of the autonomy. The university was also moved here;
• National ideas spread, which caused the growth of self-consciousness. Literary works written in Finnish began to appear. At the same time, the ideological basis of Finland's independence was being formed;
• Reforms in the 1860s contributed to the development of the economy, including industry and trade. Finland became the center of the empire's paper and food industries;
• The population grew rapidly, the standard of living of which rose.

The government of the country saw in the principality an outpost that was supposed to protect the outer borders of the empire. As a result, the rulers tried to bind Finland economically, politically, and culturally. But close ties did not arise, which caused the growth of confrontation between Russia and Finland. At the beginning of the 20th century an elected parliament was created in the principality. Both men and women have the right to choose.

Path to Independence

Taking advantage of the fact that a revolution began in Russia that put an end to the monarchy, the Senate of Finland declared the principality independent. The government was unable to keep power in its hands, which caused chaos and political confusion in the country. The situation was complicated by the fact that the ideas of socialism began to spread in Finland. Supporters of the new ideology received funding from Russia. The young state turned to Germany for help, which supported the Finns.

Despite losing Germany in the First World War, Finland gained independence from other countries. In 1919, a republic was created in the state, headed by the president. Thanks to the influence of the Western economy, the Finns were able to quickly revive their own industry and trade. At the same time, the internal situation became more complicated, which caused a civil war. It was possible to overcome the crisis through the holding of new parliamentary elections, which made it possible to elect representatives from different social classes to the authorities.

In September 1939, the Second World War broke out, which allowed the Soviet Union to demand the return of certain border territories from Finland. The so-called Winter War began, lasting more than three months. The war ended in March 1940 with the signing of a peace treaty. Finland lost the Hanko peninsula and some coastal cities.

In 1941, the Continuation War began, in which the Finns received support from Germany. Not a single treaty was signed between the countries, but the Finns and Germans fought against the USSR together. Despite successful military operations, Finland again made significant territorial concessions, which were secured at the Paris Peace Conference. The Soviet Union set up a military base near the Finnish capital, the government paid heavy reparations to the USSR, and the government that had been in power during the war was arrested.

Finland was connected with the Soviet Union by the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which made it possible to normalize relations between the countries. But the state was never under the occupation of the USSR, which allowed the Finns to develop their own national political system of the northern (Scandinavian) model.

During the second half of the 20th century The Finnish government carried out reforms aimed at integrating the country into Western European economic and trading systems. The successful policy of maneuvering between the USSR, the USA and the countries of Western Europe allowed Finland to join several leading European economic organizations, including EFTA and the EEC.

International recognition of Finland came in 1975, when the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now the OSCE) was signed in Helsinki.

Finland in the late 20th - early 21st centuries

The collapse of the Soviet Union caused the beginning of a deep economic crisis in the state, because of which enterprises began to close en masse, the industry began to fade, many industries ceased to exist altogether.

The government went on to carry out reforms, which allowed from the mid-1990s. start economic recovery. The support of the European Union also played a significant role in the revival of enterprises. In 1992, Finland applied to join the organization because it was interested in developing a common security system, a market, and conducting a common foreign policy with the countries of Scandinavia and Europe.

Three years later, Finland became a member of the EU. The next step on the path of European integration was the decision to introduce the euro as a national currency, for this the state joined the economic and monetary union of the EU.

In the early 2000s Finland began to take an active part not only in the work of European structures, but also regional ones. Basically, this is the implementation of economic, trade and scientific projects implemented with the Baltic countries and the Scandinavian Peninsula. At the same time, the country's government supports initiatives to create a unified European security system.

The main attraction of Finland is its amazing nature, where national parks are the best place to relax. Travelers with children and everyone who is looking for colorful Nordic backdrops for a photo shoot usually rush to Urho Kekkonen, over which the Korvatunturi fell rises, where, according to rumors, the Finnish brother of the Russian Santa Claus lives. You can take part in a husky safari, go skiing and snowboarding, go down into a real mine and arrange a social competition to collect lingonberries in Pyhä-Luosto. People usually come to Linnansaari to kayak through narrow straits and skate a free program on lakes bound by a dense layer of ice. Oulanka Park, located almost on the border with Russia, is worth a look if you are interested in the nature of North Karelia, but it is recommended to look for fabulous hills and inspiring panoramas of Lake Pielinen in Koli Park.

As part of the cultural program, Helsinki is ahead of all. The Finnish capital is quiet and good-looking, unlike other European megacities, which makes it even more conducive to leisurely excursions. Of the iconic places of the “daughter of the Baltic”, it is worth highlighting the Senaatintori Square, the Sveaborg citadel, the Temppeliaukio mountain church and the Tuomiokirkko Cathedral. The island of Seurasaari makes an indelible impression, attracting travelers with its open-air ethnographic museum and winding forest routes.

Numerous parks and ancient forts made a good advertisement for the surroundings of the port city of Kotka. Be sure to look for the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker here, whose exteriors in the style of Russian classicism copy the architecture of St. Petersburg churches to the smallest detail. The oldest city in the country, Turku, also has something to catch the eye. The head of the short list of attractions of the ancient port is Abo Castle, which was built as a military fort, but later became famous not for heroic defense, but for knightly revels. By the way, if you have several hundred euros lying around in your pocket, the palace halls can be rented for a fun banquet or a pompous wedding ceremony.

Bypassing local museums will also bring a lot of impressions. Those who know a lot about avant-garde trends and ordinary lovers to criticize the creations of contemporary artists have a direct road to the Kiasma Museum. To see the paintings of Shishkin, Repin and Van Gogh, buy a ticket to the Ateneum Museum. A visit to the open-air exposition "Karelian House" is usually recommended to anyone interested in ancient life. The Tsar's House Museum, whose building was built specifically for Alexander III, also has an interesting fate: it was here that the Russian autocrat fished while European ambassadors languished in anticipation of his audience.

You can also roam from city to city by bus. Several major carriers operate in Finland, united in the ExpressBus company. The cost of tickets is quite reasonable, in addition, there is a pleasant system of discounts for children, pensioners and students. Those who want to ride around the provinces and save a little can purchase a Bus Pass (150 EUR - a weekly option, 250 EUR - a two-week one). For more information on bus routes, tickets and discounts, please visit the expressbus.fi website.

A fairly common way of communication between port cities is ferry crossings. The same transport is convenient to get to the Aland Islands. You can find out about ferry routes and schedules on the website finferries.fi.

Within the Finnish capital, it is convenient to travel by bus, tram, metro and taxi. Tickets here are universal and are valid in any type of public transport: you can limit yourself to a one-time option (about 2-2.7 EUR), or you can take a daily (8 EUR), three-day (16 EUR) or five-day (24 EUR) travel card.

A free taxi in Helsinki is identified by a yellow light on the top of the car. Payment is made at the counter, through the cash register installed in the salon. On average, landing costs from 5.3 to 8.3 EUR, and a kilometer of the way - from 1.4 to 2 EUR.

The most active and indefatigable will be able to rent a bike without any problems: for only 2 EUR, CityBike parking lots in the capital will provide you with a serviceable “two-wheeled horse”. In other cities, the tariffs are higher: 10-15 EUR per day of vehicle operation.

Car rental in Finland

The roads in Finland are excellent, and the most interesting sights are scattered throughout the country, so it is definitely worth renting a car here. The only thing that can slightly spoil the impression of the trip is the local prices for gasoline. For a liter of diesel fuel at Finnish gas stations, they demand from 1.13 EUR, the 95th goes for 1.34 EUR, but a liter of the 98th will cost 1.41 EUR.

Any driver over the age of 18 who has an international driver's license, own credit card and a driving experience of 1 year or more can rent a car in Finland. Tariffs of rental offices usually depend on the period for which the car is taken. For example, a day of renting an economy class car will lighten your wallet by as much as 70 EUR. For those who rent a vehicle for a longer period, the prices are more pleasant - about 120 EUR for 3 days of rental. Payment is due on the day you pick up the car, however, if you plan to book a car in advance, be prepared to make a partial prepayment. As for fines for traffic violations, information about them is usually sent to the rental office, which automatically debits the required amount from the deposit blocked on your card.

Connection

The big three Finnish carriers are DNA, Elisa and Sonera. To connect to any of them, it is enough to look into the company salon, supermarket or R-kioski stores, where for 6-18 EUR you will be quickly accepted into the ranks of subscribers. The most economical tariff plans are offered by Elisa and DNA: SMS and calls for 0.07 EUR, Internet - 0.99 EUR / day, while buying a DNA SIM card costs a couple of euros more. Sonera has slightly higher rates: 0.08 EUR for local calls and 0.16 EUR for a minute of communication with a foreign country.

Such a disappearing form of communication as a payphone is still popular in Finland. You can find the treasured booth with a retro machine on the street, in the subway, hotels and post offices. Calls in them are paid for with cards sold in R-kioski shops, the minimum cost of a call within the country is 0.5 EUR.

With the Internet in the homeland of the Moomins, everything is more than safe. The guests of most hotels receive free and unlimited access to the World Wide Web, while the rest can join the similar benefits of civilization in restaurants and cafes. In Helsinki, you can find a Wi-Fi access point right in the city center: the main post office, city hall building, shopping centers, libraries generously distribute traffic to everyone.

Finland for children

Finns adore children as much as their Swedish neighbors, so the range of entertainment for young travelers here is simply fabulous. The village of Joulupukki and Santa Park (Rovaniemi) continue to hold the palm among the most desirable attractions in Finland. Here your tomboy will be met by the Finnish Santa Claus (the same Joulupukki), elf helpers, reindeer teams and cheerful carousels sparkling with Christmas garlands. Kids and adults who are nostalgic for the wonderful fairy tales of Tove Jansson can ride to the city of Naatali, in the vicinity of which the Moomin trolls, Snufkins and other incredible inhabitants of Moomindol live. It is better to bring young experimenters to the Evrika Popular Science Center, or even “forget” them there for a couple of days (there is a camp for teenagers at the museum) in order to have fun in some adult institution.

beach holiday

The number of well-groomed and top-notch beaches in the Land of a Thousand Lakes is difficult to count, so the tourist always has the opportunity to show off, choosing the very best of them. The coziest and prettiest stretches of the coast usually belong to hotels or are attached as an additional bonus to tourist houses, but there is no shortage of public places for swimming. In the same Helsinki, you will find about 30 beaches, where you can wallow for free.

Among the most developed and visited resorts in Finland is Yuyteri (Pori city): as many as 6 kilometers of the cleanest sandy coast with campsites, spas, extreme entertainment and excellent beach infrastructure. Families with children and lovers of splashing in shallow water are usually recommended to look into Oulu and Tampere, as well as take a closer look at the beaches of lakes Pyhäjärvi and Näsijärvi. You can swim in the Åland Islands, but you will have to look for a suitable place with a convenient descent: the coast here is rocky.

Skiing

The mountains, or rather the hills of Finland, are not aimed at ski gurus, but rather at beginners and those who have just learned the basics of this sport. With the same success, you can slide down their gentle slopes on a sled or a cheesecake: there is a minimum of risk, but pleasure and adrenaline are the opposite. By the way, local trails are equipped with the latest technology.

Resorts of a more advanced level should be looked for in Lapland. In particular, if you want to hang around among the Finnish business elite, save money for a ski pass in Saariselkä. In Levi, the people are simpler: the complex is famous for its variety of tracks and the cable car, the only one in all of Finland. Families with children, snowboarders and cross-country skiers have chosen Vuokatti, for whom first-class tracks are equipped here. But skiers from the northern capital prefer not to go deep into the Finnish wilds, mastering the slopes of border resorts like Friska, Myllymäki and Uuperinrinteet.

Fishing in Finnish waters is possible only with a license in hand. Fishing with an ordinary fishing rod without a reel and spinners is possible without obtaining documentary permission. To obtain a license, a tourist needs to acquire, firstly, a certificate of payment of the state fee for fishing (can be bought at a bank, post office, R-kioski network and on the official website), and secondly, a receipt for payment of a local license (purchased gas stations, shops). Each of the documents is valid only on the territory of one province, that is, if you are going to arrange a fishing tour in all the lakes of Finland, you will have to acquire a fresh license in each area.

As for the catch, it will be equally rich everywhere, differing only in species diversity. For example, for salmon and grayling, it is better to go to the Lapland rivers Näätämöjoki, Simojoki, Tenojoki and Tornionjoki. Pike is most often caught in lakes Kemijärvi and Porttipahta, and for brown trout you will have to ride to Inari and Väsari. The coolest place in eastern Finland is the Kuusamo region, in particular, the Tornio River. You should come here for salmon, as well as pike and perch that flooded the surrounding lakes.

In the west of the country, you can get hold of trout, grayling and the same salmon (rivers Kiiminkijoki, Simojoki, Iijoki), but for whitefish you should look at the lakes and rapids of the Savo region, which has gained fame as the cleanest corner of Finland.

Where to stay

Traditional Finnish hotels do not have stars, which does not affect the level of their service. For those who are used to traveling on a grand scale and prefer apartments in the “expensive-rich” style, we can recommend options such as Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa (Helsinki), Arctic Light (Rovaniemi).

Incorrigible misanthropes, the latest romantics and couples looking for solitude will suit wooden cottages scattered across the most secluded and picturesque corners of Finland:,. Almost all houses are built from ecological materials and equipped with fireplaces and saunas. By the way, such apartments are in demand in ski resorts.

You can relax with your body and soul in spa complexes that have recently flooded the shores of Finnish lakes and rivers (, Cumulus Rukahovi, Ruissalo, Santa "s Resort & Spa Hotel Sani). If the tourist budget is bursting at the seams and there is not enough money for a decent hotel , it is worth looking into local hostels and campsites.

Despite the fact that Finland is considered to be an expensive country, housing prices here are very mixed. If in pretentious hotels the most modest room will cost 75 EUR, then in hotels of a lower rank there will always be a room for 50 EUR. In hostels, the situation is even more positive - up to 45 EUR per room. The most ridiculous (by European standards) rates in campsites: from 3 to 20 EUR per night. The owners of eco-cottages have not yet decided on prices, so you can rent a nice house for a week for either 250 or 800 euros.

shopping

Global shopping in Finland can cost a pretty penny, so travelers planning to stock up on branded items should better time their trip to Christmas or Juhannus (the Finnish equivalent of Ivan Kupala Day), when large-scale sales start in all malls in the country. You can understand that the store has begun to liquidate the collection by the signs “Alennusmyynt” and “Ale”.

The most suitable places for acquiring a stylish European outfit in Finland are showrooms and outlets in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere. Do not neglect local textile products, which will cost an order of magnitude cheaper than their French or English counterpart. In particular, the youth brand Jack & Jones, sports equipment manufacturer Luhta and exclusive designer clothes Halonen have gained a good reputation. It is best to look for original children's things, toys and vintage accessories at the Kirputoria flea markets. If the second-hand does not cause negative associations, in such places you can save a lot.

Those who like to buy memorable souvenirs should save up a certain amount on their account in advance: the assortment of funny little things and gift products in Finland is luxurious. Here you will find national dolls, and deer skins, and Moomin figures, and elite Lapponia Jewelry, skillfully stylized as handicrafts, locally produced porcelain and ceramics, Scandinavian puukko knives, as well as a bunch of all kinds of things that will warm you up if you own them. soul, becoming a material reminder of the trip. Gourmets usually bring smoked fish, berry liqueur, cheeses, Fazer chocolate, Salmiakki liquorice candies, Piparkakkuja biscuits and Mintu mint liqueur from Finland.

tax free

VAT on most goods in Finland is as much as 22%, so looking for a store that supports the Tax free system is by no means a whim, but a real way to save on purchases. As practice shows, you can return from 12 to 16% of the cost of the goods, but only if the amount of your purchases exceeded 40 EUR. And one more thing: go on a shopping tour with your passport, as the store employees will definitely require you to present it before filling out the check.

You can get part of your money back at Helsinki Airport, as well as at return points located on the Finnish-Russian border: border crossings Valimaa-Torfyanovka, Imatra-Svetogorsk, Nuijamaa-Brusnichnoye, Niirala-Vyartsilya and others. To apply for Tax free, you must first “stamp” the goods with customs officers (in no case open the package), after which you can safely go to any of the nearest offices involved in the return of funds.

Shop opening hours

Small shops and boutiques are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00, while large shopping centers serve visitors until 20:00-21:00. On Saturday, all outlets work on a reduced schedule, until 15:00. On a holiday, you won’t be able to buy anything, since except for the R-kioski chain pavilions, all stores in the country are closed.

Holidays and events

In Finland, you can celebrate both classic religious holidays like Christmas and Easter, and take part in all kinds of festivals that go on in this country in an endless series. Of the winter holidays, the New Year, the Day of the Sami people and the Day of the Kalevala, the Karelian-Finnish poetic epic, are considered especially significant. In spring, crispy brushwood is baked everywhere in the country for May Day (Vappu) and stocked with bouquets and gifts for Mother's Day, which is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

Summer in Finland is the holiday of Ivan Kupala (Juhannus), a military parade on the Day of Defensive Forces, a daring Flow Festival and a gay pride that is unchanged for all European countries. The heavy rock festival Tuska Open Air in Helsinki also falls in the summer months: an amazingly large and equally deafening event is held in the industrial zone of the capital and gathers up to 30,000 spectators at its venues. In October, all tourists and metropolitan gourmets flock to the Helsinki Market Square to celebrate Herring Day, and at the same time try all varieties of this truly Scandinavian delicacy.

Visa information

To obtain permission to enter Finland, tourists from Russia and the CIS will have to apply for a visa. The procedure for issuing a pass can be completed at consulates or visa centers. In this case, a standard all-Schengen package of documents will be required: a passport with a validity period of at least three months after the end of the trip, a color photo 36 × 47 mm, a completed online application form, hotel reservation confirmation, copies of round-trip air tickets and medical insurance covering expenses from 30,000 EUR.

In some cases, the consulate may require the tourist to confirm financial solvency and a certificate of employment. When traveling with children under the age of 14, a copy of the birth certificate must be provided, as well as a notarized copy of the permission to leave from the mother/father if the child is traveling with only one of the parents.

Customs

Without the need to fill out a declaration, only 1500 USD can be brought to Finland. As for hand luggage, its cost should not exceed 430 EUR. Age restrictions apply to the import of alcohol:

• for persons under the age of 18 and tourists whose stay in the country will be less than 3 days - a complete ban;
• for tourists aged 18 to 20 years - drinks are not stronger than 22 °.

In total, you can carry 16 liters of beer, 4 liters of wine and up to 1 liter of strong alcohol (over 22 °) or 2 liters of other drinks with a strength of less than 22 ° without paying a fee. Restrictions on tobacco products are the same as in other European countries: 200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 250 g of tobacco. A more detailed list of limits applicable to the import and export of certain categories of goods can be found on the official website of the Finnish Customs Administration: tulli.fi.

How to get there

Airplane. You can fly from Moscow to Helsinki without transfers with Aeroflot and Finnair. Travel time - 1 hour 50 minutes. Norra offers direct flights from the northern capital (air time - 1 hour 10 minutes), and it is better to look for options with transfers from Rossiya, Aeroflot and AirBaltic (flight duration from 3 hours 30 minutes).

A train. Every day, from the Leningradsky railway station in Moscow, the branded train "Leo Tolstoy" leaves for Helsinki, which residents of St. Petersburg can also get on. The entire journey of the locomotive takes no more than 14 hours. A more efficient option is the Allegro high-speed train from the Northern capital, which will take a tourist to Finland in just 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Bus from St. Petersburg. Buses to Helsinki depart from Vosstaniya Square. The trip usually takes about 6 hours.

Ferry. Fans of sea cruises can sail to Finland on the ferries "Princess Maria" and "Princess Anastasia", departing from the Marine Station of St. Petersburg. The duration of this trip is 14 hours.

- a state in the north of Europe, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement.

Official name of Finland:
Republic of Finland.

Territory of Finland:
The area of ​​the state of the Republic of Finland is 338145 km².

Population of Finland:
The population of Finland is more than 5 million inhabitants (5219732 people).

Ethnic groups of Finland:
Finns, Swedes, Russians, Estonians, etc.

Average life expectancy in Finland:
The average life expectancy in Finland is equal to - 77.92 years (see. Rating of countries in the world by average life expectancy).

Capital of Finland:
Helsinki.

Major cities in Finland:
Helsinki, Turku.

State language of Finland:
In Finland, according to a special law adopted in 1922, two official languages ​​are Finnish and Swedish. Most people in Finland speak Finnish. Swedish is spoken by 5.5% of the population, Russian by 0.8%, Estonian by 0.3%. Other languages ​​are spoken by 1.71% of the Finnish population.

Religion in Finland:
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran and Orthodox churches have the status of state religions. Almost 84.2% of the inhabitants of Finland belong to the former, 1.1% to the latter, 1.2% to other churches, and 13.5% have no religious affiliation.

Geographical position of Finland:
Finland is located in the north of Europe, a significant part of its territory lies beyond the Arctic Circle. On land it borders on Sweden, Norway and Russia, the maritime border with Estonia passes through the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea.

Rivers of Finland:
Vuoksa, Kajaani, Kemijoki, Oulujoki.

Administrative-territorial division of Finland:
Finland is divided into 6 provinces, governed by governments headed by governors appointed by the country's president. The lowest administrative-territorial unit of the country is the commune. The communes are organized into 20 provinces, governed by provincial councils and serving for the development and interaction of their constituent communes.

State structure of Finland:
Finland is a republic. The highest executive power in the country belongs to the President. The president is elected for a six-year term by direct popular vote.

Executive power in Finland is exercised by the government (Council of State), which consists of a prime minister and a required number of ministers, no more than 18. The prime minister is chosen by the Finnish parliament and then formally approved by the president. The President of Finland appoints other ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister. The government, together with the prime minister, resigns after each parliamentary election, as well as by decision of the president of the country in case of loss of confidence in the parliament, by personal statement and in some other cases. The Finnish Parliament is unicameral and consists of 200 deputies. Deputies are elected by popular vote for a term of 4 years.

The Finnish judiciary is divided into a court dealing with ordinary civil and criminal cases, and an administrative court in charge of cases between the people and the administrative bodies of the state. Finnish laws are based on Swedish, and more broadly on civil law and Roman law. The judiciary is made up of local courts, regional courts of appeal and a high court. The administrative branch consists of administrative courts and a higher administrative court. Elected for a six-year term by direct popular vote.