Lets go to place number 1. Let’s walk around the area of the Old Town. It is a famous house of the bookseller and publisher Victor Hoving in the Art Nouveau style.
Hoving was of Dutch origin. And now by the remained frames one can see the Dutch windows, which were opened «up from the bottom». On the first floor Hoving placed his bookstore, and the apartments began from the second floor. In each room there was a fireplace - the separate work of art. Those fireplaces never have been repeated. On the stairs there was the artistic forging. In the past it was a building of amazing beauty both outside and inside. After the revolution, all flats with fireplaces became communal apartments. In 1986 it was decided to make capital repairs in this house and all people from Howing’s house left it. In the 1990s, a certain company decided to buy Hoving’s house to restore it and to open a luxury hotel in it. However, the house is still empty and is standing open. Once it burnt nowadays. And now that is all that has remained from Howing’s house.
There is place number 2. This is a demolished district of the merchant and philanthropist Seth Solberg, or district No. 17, which has glorified Vyborg in recent years.
It was demolished in 2013. Previously there were seven houses, and six of them had the status of historical monuments. At the beginning of the 20th century, in one of the houses of this district, Seth Solberg opened a varnish and paint factory. After the war, when the city moved to the Soviet Union, in this building there was a factory of power tools. Neighboring houses remained habitable. In the spring, 2013, excavators were brought here: as buildings ostensibly created a threat to passers-by. A part of district was demolished. Now there are only ruins here that look like a war has just ended.
Number 3 is my favorite building. It is a mansion of the merchant and philanthropist Sergeyev.
It is located in the center of Vyborg and is the only architectural monument of the city, built in the Rococo style by Frederic Odenwal in 1883. This mansion distinguished by its exquisite forms and by the slenderness of drawings of its details that were emphasized by the lacy design of the railings of its large balcony. The interior of the house was decorated with stucco ornaments, tiled stoves and parquet floors. The mansion of merchant Sergeev has survived two wars. But, unfortunately, today, this house, being a monument of cultural heritage of the regional importance, is empty, and is in great need of restoration.
Place Number 4 is a Cinema “Salama” (“Lightning”, “Homeland”).
This building of the cinema (that was called in Russian “Homeland” was built by the famous architect Georg Fraser, in the Art Nouveau style in 1917. It was almost completely destroyed in the Winter War. Between two wars, the Finns have completely restored the cinema. And after the second war, the building was repaired. It was an excellent cinema. In 2009 this building burned and today it looks like ruins.
Number 5 is a former Residential house on the corner of North Val street and Water Gate street.
It was built by the architect Frederick Tesleff in 1897. In this building there was a headquarters of the 30th Guards Corps from 1945 to 1998. In 2014, military leaders turned over this building to the city and after that it immediately burned down. The building was characterized by beautiful interiors. Today there is mud and ruins inside. Now this house looks like that.
Place number 6 is near here. It is Hackman House or a granite palace.
It is one of the most beautiful buildings in Vyborg. The interiors of the building were luxurious. But today it does not show signs of life. The building is empty.
It is place number 7. It is the only preserved standard guardhouse in Vyborg.
It is an architectural monument of the XVIII century. It is located near the Friedrichsham gates of the Annin fortifications. The building was built in 1776. In 1984, the guardhouse was restored. In 2013, in this building fire happened. And now it is ruined and empty.
There is place number 8. It is a Bank building. It’s address is 2 Pioneer street.
Until 1939, it was a Vyborg branch of the Union Bank of Finland, Yhdyspankki. Then, after the war there was the State Bank, and later an operating cash desk of “Vyborg-Bank”, where a fresco of the famous Finnish artist Bruno Tuukkanen with wonderful panorama of Vyborg was preserved .
In 2016, the Central Bank recalled the license from Vyborg Bank and now the building is empty. A management board of Vyborg-Bank has kept the interiors of the bank as much as possible. But what will happen to this fresco and the interiors in the future?! It is known, if people leave the house, then it quickly collapses. But this fresco already needs the restoration.
In conclusion, I would like to say that in October 2015, the whole Old town of Vyborg was included in the list of 50 sights of 36 countries that are endangered. In August 2016, a global alarm - Heritage Alert was declared for Vyborg. I think, It’s time to cooperate people and help to save our city.
Lets save Vyborg together with Local Guides Connect!
From Vyborg…A member of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), art-critic, historian of art, historian, journalist, Anastasia Martynova.
