Loviisa (Swedish: Lovisa) is a charming coastal town and municipality in southern Finland, located in the Uusimaa region approximately 90 kilometers east of Helsinki and 38 kilometers east of Porvoo. Founded in the mid-18th century as a strategic border fortress, it has evolved into a bilingual community known for its historical wooden architecture, scenic archipelago, and significant role in Finland's energy sector through its nuclear power plant. With a population of around 14,362 as of June 2025, Loviisa spans a vast area of 1,751.52 km², including extensive water bodies and rural landscapes, making it larger in land area than the combined cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Espoo. The town is bilingual, with Finnish and Swedish as official languages, reflecting its cultural heritage in a region historically influenced by Swedish rule.
Loviisa was established in 1745 as Degerby, a fortress town to
counter Russian influence after the 1743 Treaty of Åbo shifted Finland’s
eastern border, leaving Hamina in Russian territory. In 1752, King Adolf
Frederick renamed it Loviisa after his wife, Queen Louisa Ulrika.
Construction of the Loviisa fortress began in 1748 but was never
completed due to funding shortages, leaving partial battlements like the
Rosen and Ungern bastions. The nearby Svartholm sea fortress, built to
protect against naval attacks, fell to Russia in 1808 during the Finnish
War.
A fire in 1855, possibly from British bombardment during the
Crimean War, destroyed much of the town center, including its wooden
church. Rebuilt by 1856 on architect Ernst Lohrmann’s grid plan, Loviisa
became a popular spa town in the 1860s, drawing visitors for sea baths
and cultural events until World War I. Industrialization began with a
steam-powered sawmill in 1882 and a cardboard factory in 1912, a major
employer. The 20th century saw political unrest, including strikes
during the 1917 Russian Revolution and the 1918 Finnish Civil War. In
1965, a nuclear power plant was proposed, with its two units operational
by 1977 and 1980. In 2010, Loviisa expanded by merging with Liljendal,
Pernå, and Ruotsinpyhtää, incorporating rural areas and historical
manors like Malmgård.
Located on the Gulf of Finland, Loviisa features coastal plains,
forests, and an archipelago with islands like Sarvisalo and Hästholmen,
where the nuclear plant is situated. It includes about 40 lakes, the
largest being Hopjärvi, and rivers like Koskenkylänjoki and
Loviisanjoki. Urban areas center on districts like Alakaupunki (Lower
Town), with preserved 17th-century structures such as the Degerby horse
stead, one of Finland’s oldest wooden buildings. The Esplanadi park
around the market square is a culturally significant landscape.
The
climate is temperate maritime, influenced by the Baltic Sea, with mild
summers (average highs of 20-25°C in July) and cold winters (lows
reaching -10°C or below in January). Recent summers have been warmer,
occasionally impacting nuclear plant operations due to high seawater
temperatures. The area sees seasonal events like bird flu outbreaks,
with 19 seals found dead along the Loviisa and Porvoo coasts in July
2025, under investigation. Hiking trails, fortress ruins, and sites like
Strömfors Ironworks, a 17th-century industrial relic, attract outdoor
enthusiasts.
As of June 2025, Loviisa’s population is 14,362, with a density of 17.52 inhabitants per km². The linguistic split is 55.1% Finnish, 38.8% Swedish, and 6.2% other languages, highlighting its bilingual nature. The age distribution shows 13.5% under 14, 57% aged 15-64, and 29.5% over 65, reflecting an aging population. In 2019, 74.5% lived in urban areas, primarily the central district, followed by Koskenkylä and Tesjoki. The town appeals to those seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle, with some commuting to Helsinki.
Loviisa’s economy combines services, industry, and tourism, with
82.0% job self-sufficiency in 2019. The Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant,
operated by Fortum, is central, employing over 500 and producing 7.9 TWh
in 2024, about 10% of Finland’s electricity, despite maintenance delays.
Its two VVER-440 reactors saw upgrades in 2024, including turbine
modernization and automation retrofits. A shift to Westinghouse fuel
assemblies in Unit 2 in 2024 reduced Russian dependency. Fortum also
began a hydrogen production pilot at the site in 2024, with
commissioning set for late 2025.
Other economic drivers include the
Valko port, handling timber and bulk cargo with rail connections to
Lahti, and industries like Loval electronics (300 employees),
Timberpoint, and Boomerang Boats. The municipality, with over 1,000
staff and a 2021 budget of €130 million, is the largest employer. In
2019, employment was 5.4% in primary production, 32.7% in manufacturing,
and 59.4% in services, with an 11.4% unemployment rate in November 2021.
Tourism thrives on events and historical sites, boosted by the 2023
Asuntomessut housing fair showcasing Kuningattarenranta.
Loviisa’s cultural life centers on its historical charm, with events
like “Charming Old Loviisa” showcasing restored wooden homes. Summer art
residencies, such as the 2024 program featuring artist Tianrui from
China, enrich the scene. Key attractions include the incomplete inland
fortress, Svartholm sea fortress, and Esplanadi park. Strömfors
Ironworks, a well-preserved 17th-century site, highlights early
industry. Artworks like Mstislav Dobuzhinsky’s 1915 painting “Finland. A
Street in Lovisa” capture the town’s essence.
Education supports
bilingualism, and community life revolves around nature, festivals, and
seasonal events listed on the 2025 summer calendar. Rare species, like
the near-threatened moth Euphyia biangulata, highlight local
biodiversity.
By August 2025, the nuclear plant’s licenses were extended to the 2040s, with discussions on new nuclear projects in the region. Environmental concerns emerged in July 2025 with dead seals, possibly due to avian flu. Weather events like weak thunderstorms and scenic social media posts emphasize Loviisa’s tranquil appeal. The town continues to balance its historical roots with modern energy innovations, offering a high quality of life in Finland’s evolving landscape.