Old woman of Tuomarinkylä Manor
Built by military treasurer Johannes Weckströmin in the late 1700s, Tuomarinkylä Manor is one of the finest historical homes in Helsinki. According to legend, the manor house is haunted by the spirit of the daughter of the original owner, Natalia Kavaleff. The old woman in white has been seen in the attic and park of the manor house!
Where? Tuomarinkylä Manor, Tuomarinkyläntie 7
Headless colonel of Kruununhaka
The most famous ghost in the Kruununhaka district is a headless colonel who haunts the building on the corner of Vironkatu and Meritullinkatu. The ghost, who goes by the name of Aleksi, has been heard talking in the empty rooms of the building. Sometimes he rides the elevator holding his head under his arm. The curious spirit also likes to look through the papers of the university researchers who work in the building!
Where? Vironkatu 1
Phantom of the Opera at the Alexander Theatre
The Alexander Theatre was originally built in 1879 as an opera house. It is said that the bricks for the building came from the Bomarsund Fortress in Åland, which was bombed during the Crimean War. Accompanying the bricks was a ghost who happened to love the opera. The phantom apparently likes to open doors by himself!
Where? Alexander Theatre, Bulevardi 23–27
Ghosts of the National Theatre
The National Theatre is veritably buzzing with ghosts, if the story is true. At least half a dozen restless spirits are said to inhabit the building. Ida Ahlberg walks around looking for her diary and Bertta Lindberg walks around the main stage and women’s changing room, while Kaarlo Bergholm inhabits the backstage area and Jalmar Rinne the small stage. Urho Somersalmi sits in the director’s stall and disappears if anyone spots him!
Where? National Theatre, Läntinen Teatterikuja 1
Public execution sites in the centre of Helsinki
Execution sites were needed in past centuries to deal with the most deranged and dangerous criminals. The definition of deranged and dangerous was also much broader than it is today, so a lot of execution sites were needed. Accordingly, some execution sites can be found right in the city centre. For example, there was a public execution site at what is now Fredrikinkatu 54 in the Kamppi district in the 1800s. There was another one at the intersection of Töölönkatu and Linnankoskenkatu, where there is now a park. On the slopes of the Observatory Hill (Tähtitorninmäki) there was also a pillory and execution site.
Execution site in Lestimäki, Suutarila
Lestimäki in Suutarila was an execution site in the 1700s. It is included in a map of the land and forests belonging to the Parish of Helsinki in 1776. At the time, Lestimäki was a remote location that was used for the execution of major criminals.
Where? Lestikuja 3
Gallows rock in Arabia
The oldest execution site in Helsinki was erected along the Arabianranta shoreline in 1550. Helsinki did not have its own executioner at the time, so executioners from Turku and Hämeenlinna travelled to Helsinki to do the job. In addition to thieves, such as the weaver Kutoja-Yrjö, and many murders, many nobles connected to Sigismund III were also hanged here. Today you will find the Bokvillaninpuisto park there.
Where? Hämeentie 125
Gallows and beheading site in Siltavuorenmäki
Siltavuorenmäki was once on the outskirts of town, near a main road. This made it the ideal place for the executioner to do his work. The last execution took place there in the 1720s. According to legend, however, there was still a gallows on Maurinkatu in the early 1800s.
Where? Northern end of Maurinkatu
Abandoned villas along the Kruunuvuori shoreline
A spooky atmosphere and dilapidated old buildings can be found in Kruunuvuori, where time stood still for decades. Dozens of wooden villas were abandoned and now attract photographers and urban explorers. The villas have been demolished altogether as the area is being revitalised, but you can still get a sense of the ghostly atmosphere.
