Tracing The History Of Aland
The highest peaks of the Aland Islands began rising out of the Baltic Sea approximately 10,000 years ago. The most ancient archaeological discoveries have helped established that the earliest culture was possibly the Comb Ceramic Culture that starts from around 4000 BC onwards. Pitted Ware tracing back to 2500 BC has been found and artefacts from the Kiukainen culture dating back to 1800 BC have also been discovered.
In the Middle Ages, the Kastelholm Castle played an integral role in several raids and wars from 1300 to 1600. From 1714 onwards to 1721, Aland was raided and ravaged by the armies of Peter the Great which resulted in a large scale migration to Sweden.
The Aland Islands were a part of the provinces that were ceded by Sweden to Russia and as a fraction of the same the islands formed a part of the Grand Duchy of Finland. In ceding the land over, even though Sweden wanted to ensure that the islands would not be fortified it was unable to extract an agreement for the same from Russia. The fortification of the islands proved to be a problem not only for Sweden but also a threat to the trade of the United Kingdom.
During the Crimean War, Anglo French forces conquered the fortress of Bomarsund, and following the Aland Convention between Russia, France and the United Kingdom it was decided that there would be no further fortification of the Aland Islands and no naval or military bases would be maintained on the islands.
Tourist Attractions In Aland
From the Maritime Museum and the Russian fortress of Bomarsund, to the castle of Kastelholm and the Aland Churches, the islands are full of great sights to see and explore. Since the entire region is steeped in history, visiting the different monuments and sights is a great way to understand the rich culture and evolution of the place.
The Maritime Museum is famous worldwide and provides an interesting look into the life of seamen and gives an insight into their experiences during periods of naval conflict, as well as housing various maritime artefacts from the 17th century onwards. The Bomarsund fortress is also a popular spot for tourist excursions. Built in 1832 by the Russian army, the fortress was destroyed in 1854 in the Crimean War. Even though the fortress was ravaged, it remains a popular monument and stands testimony to the rich history of the region.