Founding of the city of Oulu and the Oulu Castle
The Oulujoki river mouth became significant when the harbor became an official centre of trade in 1531. During the war against Russia in 1570-1595, a fortress was built of wood and earth ramparts on the spot in 1590. The war ended with the Treaty of Teusina.
There were no cities in Ostrobothnia in the beginning of the 15th century. Duke Charles (later Charles IX) realized that the Oulujoki river mouth would be a suitable location for a castle and a city as he was passing through the area. An order was given to build the castle in January of 1605: “clear the island that is called Oulu fortress, tear out the wooden contraptions that are there and furnish the fortress with ramparts for cannon fire around the whole island”. The city of Oulu was founded on the mainland opposite the island in 8.4.1605.
The castle flourished during the first decades in the 1600s. The amount of garrison and weaponry were at their highest. The amount of garrison varied from 50-100 when the city’s population was about 400. Sweden’s superpower politics turned toward middle Europe under King Gustav II Adolf’s rule and Northern areas were neglected and the castle began to lose its significance.
Explosion of Oulu
Russians burned the wooden structures of the castle to the ground during the Great Northern War (1700-1721) in 1715. The preserved parts of the castle were used primarily as warehouses after.
New plans to rebuild and modernize Oulu Castle were made in the 1700s. The castle faced its ultimate doom in 31.7.1793. Lightning lit the wooden structures on fire and the black powder stored in the chancellery armory detonated, nearly destroying the entire building.
In 1830, a trading company in the Oulu region renovated the preserved stone cellar into their powder room. Governor of the Province of Oulu Otto Nyberg promoted the repairs of the castle ruins. The current form of the ramparts comes from the 1800s when land was piled on top of the collapsed wall structures. Linnansaari began to gain the park-like quality it has today.
In 1875, on top the chancellery cellar was built the observation tower of the Oulu Seafaring School for locating practice. Once the Seafaring School ended operation, a café was founded in the tower in 1912. The Tähtitorni Café is housed in the tower today. The old stone cellar is used as a showroom.
The Oulu Castle area is a relic protected by the Protection of Antiquities Act.