Turku facts for kids

Turku
Quick facts for kids Turku ; Turku – Åbo
	City
	Turun kaupunki; Åbo stad; City of Turku
	Top row: Aerial view of Turku from atop Turku Cathedral; 2nd row: Statue of Per Brahe, Turku Castle, Turku Cathedral; 3rd row: Turku Medieval Market, The Christmas Peace Balcony of Turku, Twilight on the Aura River; Bottom row: Summer along the Aura River, view of Yliopistonkatu pedestrian area
Flag	Coat of arms
Country	Finland
Area (2009)
• Total	306.41 km2 (118.31 sq mi)
• Land	245.63 km2 (94.84 sq mi)
• Water	60.78 km2 (23.47 sq mi)
Area rank	282nd largest in Finland
Population (2013)
• Total	181,569
• Rank	5th largest in Finland
• Density	739.2/km2 (1,915/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	20000–20960
Website	www.turku.fi

Turku (Swedish: Åbo) is a city in Southwest Finland. It is the fifth-largest city in Finland, with about 180,000 people living there.

It is next to the municipalities of Aura, Kaarina, Lieto, Masku, Mynämäki, Naantali, Nousiainen, Pöytyä, Raisio and Rusko.

The official languages spoken in Turku are Finnish and Swedish.

The harbour of Turku is an important port. Many ships go from there to Mariehamn and to Stockholm. Turku Airport is also one of Finland's busiest airports.

Turku is located near the mouth of Aura river, and is spreads at both sides of the river. There are ten bridges over the Aura river in Turku.

History

Turku is the oldest city in the country. it was founded in 13th century, when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. It used to be the largest city and capital of Finland. From 1809 Russia ruled Finland, and in 1812 the government moved to Helsinki. A big fire destroyed much of Turku in 1827. After that, even the university moved to Helsinki.

The first school in Finland was established in Turku, the old Cathedral school in 13th century. The first university in Finland, "The Royal Academy of Turku" was established in the city in 1640, but it has moved to Helsinki and become the University of Helsinki. Now there are five universities in Turku: three in Finnish language and two in Swedish language.

Museums and other sights

The medieval Turku Castle as seen from the harbour side.
Turku Museum of Art is a classical example of Romantic nationalism in architecture.
Pharmacy museum.
The Court of Appeal.
Luostarinmäki handicraft museum.
Michael's Church
Martin's Church
Western side of Aura River in central Turku.
Turku Orthodox Church stands next to the main Market Square.
Brinkhall Manor in Kakskerta island.
Kakskerta Church.
Old Mill in Samppalinna.

Images for kids

Turku Cathedral, 1814, prior to the Great Fire in 1827
A daguerreotype photograph of the Nobel House, the first photograph taken in Finland, from 1842
Aurakatu area in the 1910s
Aura River seen further away from central Turku
IV District, or Martti, is one of the smallest but most densely populated districts of Turku.
Area of Turku cathedral in autumn.
People celebrating Vappu in central Turku
MS Oasis of the Seas, formerly the world's largest passenger ship, was built in Turku.
Traditional Medieval Market of Turku in summer 2006.
Paavo Nurmi Marathon is run every summer.
Locomotives at Turku Central railway station
VR Class Hv1 steam locomotive at Turku railway station in the 1920s
The main building of the University of Turku
Main library of Turku
The medieval Turku Castle as seen from the harbour side
Aura River in central Turku
Viking Grace heading towards Port of Turku.
Aerial view from Port of Turku