The National Library

Let's go inside the oldest university library opposite to the cathedral! It was designed as the church by the architect Carl Ludvig Engel in 1844. After the fire of the University of Turku in 1827, the remaining books were transferred to Helsinki, the oldest dating from1640, date of the foundation of the Royal Academy, the first Finnish University, when Finland was a part of Sweden. Nowadays all books are stored there by law to preserve the Finnish cultural heritage. In the newest extension from 1906 called The Rotunda, there is a book cave excavated in the granite rock 18 meters under the ground, to preserve the most valuable books.

After leaving your belongings in the safety boxes, you can enter the library and admire the inside paintings and wooden Greek columns painted to look like marble or other precious stones.