Hauntings in Finland: Ghosts of Helsinki
Helsinki, the capital of the Happiest Country on Earth, has a dark and gory past that is often overlooked. The city centre, with its beautiful Jugend and Art Deco architecture, hides a ghost in almost every place possible. Read on to find out 5 haunted places of Helsinki where you could meet with a other-wordly spectre.
1.FINNISH NATIONAL THEATRE / KANSALLISTEATTERI
The Finnish National Theatre is a grey, imposing building that can be found next to the Helsinki Railway Station. The theatre company was established in 1872, and it is the oldest speaking theatre in Finland. The building was erected in 1902 and it was designed by architect Onni Tarjanne. It is built in the National Romantic style, which was quite popular at the time.
 |
| Finnish National Theatre |
The theatre building is said to be haunted by three ghosts. The most prominent being the ghost of actor Urho Somersalmi. He was a very popular actor of his time. He worked in the Finnish National Theatre from 1908 to 1958. He was known to play lover roles or masculine hero roles. The handsome actor was married to Aili Somersalmi, who was also an actress. They both lived and acted in the theatre until one tragic day.
When he was 74 years old, Urho heinously killed his wife with an axe. This was a gift from the Finnish Actors Union. He then hanged himself from a ceiling lamp hook and committed suicide. It is speculated that he was suffering from mental illness. Workers of the theatre claim to see him wandering the halls carrying the same axe.
 |
| Urho and Aili Somersalmi |
Other notable ghosts of the theatre building is the ghost of the White Lady. She is purported to be an actress wondering the corridors looking for her script. The other ghost is of a man who is wearing a uniform, his identity is unknown.
2. KAPPELI RESTAURANT
Kappeli Restaurant is located in the Esplanadi Park in Helsinki. It is very close to Kauppatori and to the famous Stockmann Department Store.
 |
| Kappeli Ravintola |
It is known to have been the meeting, and drinking place, of various famous Finnish writers, poets and artists. It was open in 1867 and started by confectioner Johan Daniel Jerngrenin. There is still available the table that one of Finland's renowned poets, Eino Leino, used to sit and ponder on his poems.
Kappeli is said to be haunted by the ghost of Joself Wolontis. He ran the restaurant between 1883 to 1904. He was a Lithuanian born restauranteur. During his reign, the establishment started to be favoured by names such as author Juhani Aho, artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela and composers Jean Sibelius and Oskar Merikanto.
While renting the place, Wolontis built a cooling beer cellar, so that there was nice, cold beer available to the patrons as soon as summer came. He was famous for hosting free breakfasts every Monday for the hungover patrons, who probably needed a pick-me-up after a long weekend of partying and drinking!
Wolontis was known to have a monopoly of sorts on the restaurant scene back in his day. Now, it is said that his ghosts haunts the very beer cellar he built. He is known as the angriest ghost in Helsinki, mostly because his restaurant does not have the industry monopoly anymore. The staff that work there don't even notice his antics anymore, but several patrons have experienced his furniture-moving tricks.
3. ALEXANDER THEATRE
Alexander Theatre was built in 1876 to 1879. It was commissioned by Nikolai Alderberg, who set up a Russian Theatre with a grant from the Tsar's money. He was the Governor General of Finland, when Finland was a Russian duchy. The theatre was originally built to perform for the local Russian garrison. The materials used to build the establishment were shipped all the way from the Åland Islands, precisely from the Bomarsund Fortress.
 |
| Alexander Theater |
In the same building, there moved the National Theatre and the National Opera in 1918. For this reason, it is known as the Old Opera House. The National Opera Company moved to its own premises in Töölö in 1993.
Funnily enough, the ghost that is said to haunt the building is that of a lonely soldier who loves opera. It is speculated that the ghost travelled with the bricks that were hauled from the fortress. The fortress was bombed during the Crimean War, and this spirit is a remnant from the bomb blast. This ghost is said to have haunted there for over 100 years.
 |
| Bomarsund Fortress in Åland Island |
4. HOTEL KÄMP
The stately Hotel Kämp can be easily found at Pohjoisesplanadi. A chic street covered in expensive boutiques and fancy cafes. It is known as one of the oldest, most expensive and historic hotels in Finland. Some famous guests who have slept there include the likes of Shakira, Elton John, Madonna and even royalty like Emperor Hirohito of Japan and Queen Noor of Jordan.
 |
| Hotel Kämp |
The hotel was established in 1887 by Carl Kämp, a well known restauranteur. It is said to be the first hotel in Finland that had an elevator and working lights. It is said that Carl's wife, Maria Kämp, is haunting the old side of the building to this very day. She haunts the corridors at night, riding in the elevators and locking room doors from the inside. It is said that she looks for doors forgotten open by the housekeepers and closes them with a bang.
5. VIRONKATU 1, KRUUNUNHAKA
The district of Kruununhaka is known for its beautiful buildings and close proximity to the city centre. It houses most of the University of Helsinki buildings, and also it is close to Tuomiokirkko, various governmental offices, and Pohjoisranta.
 |
| Vironkatu 1 |
Besides this, Krunika (as nicknamed by the locals) has its own famous ghost! The apparaition is known as the Headless Colonel, and it is known to haunt the house between Vironkatu and Meritullinkatu. He goes by the name of Aleksi. He is seen going in the empty spaces in the house, and also going up in the elevators with his head in his hands. He is said to be quite a curious ghost and has been caught nosing around through papers to see find out the names of the residents of the house.
References:
- https://explorehelsinki.wordpress.com/2016/10/30/ghosts-behind-the-stage/
- https://hotelessencephotography.com/hotel/hotel-kamp-helsinki/?cn-reloaded=1
- https://lets-travel-more.com/6-scary-places-to-visit-in-helsinki/
- https://www.myhelsinki.fi/en/see-and-do/sights/helsinki%E2%80%99s-most-chilling-places-and-stories
Awesome topic and your writing is very pleasant to read.
ReplyDeleteGood amount of text and the pictures give a good background.
Thanks for making and posting this and I hope you have a
nice week.