Olavinlinna – A Unique Stage for Opera

Olavinlinna is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Nordic countries and a valuable protected heritage site. As the setting for the Savonlinna Opera Festival, it is magnificent, unique—and highly challenging.

Every summer, the Opera Festival is built from scratch. Olavinlinna has no permanent festival infrastructure or storage facilities, so everything must be brought in anew. Loading takes place quite literally from the waterfront, as technical equipment and stage sets must be transported across the water to the castle by barge.

Unlike a traditional theatre, Olavinlinna has no stage machinery. Almost everything is done manually. Performers’ dressing rooms and make-up areas are located in the castle’s labyrinthine interior or in tents outside in the courtyard. There are stairs everywhere. Opera-goers, too, need to take care on the castle’s uneven stone pathways.

“Olavinlinna is a logistically difficult venue that requires meticulous planning,” says Production Manager Jukka Pohjolainen. Or, as he puts it more candidly, it is a “logistical hell.” Yet in the same breath, he also describes it as “magical”: “Despite all the challenges, it is possible to create magical, internationally acclaimed opera productions here. It requires flexibility from both audiences and performers.”

“Despite all the challenges, it is possible to create magical, internationally acclaimed opera productions here. It requires flexibility from both audiences and performers.”

Production Manager Jukka Pohjolainen

Olavinlinna Is a Museum

The northernmost medieval castle in the world to have survived to the present day is an irreplaceable piece of cultural heritage and also a museum. “Centuries spent on the frontier between Sweden-Finland and Russia have shaped the castle into what it is today, and we want to preserve it for future generations,” says Jouni Marjamäki, Curator of Olavinlinna at the Finnish National Museum, which is part of the Finnish Heritage Agency.

The Opera Festival uses only part of the castle and only during June and July. The festival must always be organised with respect for the historic site. Although the renovated auditorium and its protective canopy have increased comfort, the seating area remains an outdoor venue. There is no air conditioning, and conditions change with the weather. That is part of the appeal of a summer event.

Arrive at Olavinlinna in Good Time

Visitors are advised to allow plenty of time before the performance begins. Queues form easily because there is only one narrow route leading into the castle. In addition, the walk from the waterfront is surprisingly long, taking visitors through Tallisaari Island and across a floating bridge. The gates open at 6 p.m., and the castle’s food and beverage outlets open at the same time.

Accessibility has been improved over the years, but the protected museum castle cannot be made completely barrier-free. “Anything that is removed is lost forever,” Marjamäki points out. Alternative solutions are therefore needed: Opera Festival staff assist wheelchair users into the auditorium, which is why wheelchair spaces and companion tickets can only be booked directly through the festival’s own ticket office.

Plan Ahead for the Interval

The 30-minute interval at the castle is always busy. It cannot be any shorter, as visitors need enough time to leave the auditorium, refresh themselves, or visit the restrooms. For most operas, however, the interval cannot be extended either, due to performers’ working-hour regulations.

Restaurant Manager Ulla Myllymäki recommends pre-ordering interval refreshments. This allows them to be served at the location closest to a guest’s seat in the auditorium. New offerings are also available, including cocktail stations and locally inspired light snacks. The champagne bar on the castle’s upper terrace boasts breathtaking views across Lake Saimaa.

Guests often ask about the tableware. “Glassware and porcelain would be hazardous on the castle’s stone surfaces, but from summer 2024 onwards, disposable items have been replaced with reusable and recyclable alternatives,” says Myllymäki.

Olavinlinna is inseparable from the spirit of the Opera Festival. Impractical, perhaps. And precisely for that reason, so enchanting.

Olavinlinna is managed by Senate Properties and the Finnish Heritage Agency. Visitor attractions and museum operations at the castle are run by the Finnish National Museum.

Learn more about Olavinlinna

Olavinlinna – A Unique Stage for Opera

Olavinlinna Is a Museum

Arrive at Olavinlinna in Good Time

Plan Ahead for the Interval

Tuoreimmat oopperauutiset

Oopperajuhlien kumppanit

Be the first to know – Subscribe to our newsletter