Liinmaa Castle

Welcome, students of medieval history and archaeology, to the evocative site of Liinmaa Castle, located in the municipality of Eurajoki, in the Satakunta region of western Finland. As we stand here today, surrounded by dense…

As we advance from the perimeter inward, our first encounter with the military engineering of Liinmaa Castle is this series of substantial outer defensive earthworks. Notice the deliberate, undulating nature of the terrain. …

Moving further inward, we arrive at the edge of the castle's most dramatic defensive feature: the deep moat system. Looking down into this wide, steep-sided trench, one can immediately grasp the sheer scale of the fortification…

Having conceptually crossed the moat, we now stand within the inner bailey, the central courtyard of Liinmaa Castle. Despite the overgrowth, you can discern that this area is remarkably flat compared to the surrounding earthworks. …

We now approach the highest and most significant topographical feature within the complex: the central tower mound, often referred to archaeologically as the motte. This artificially raised hillock served as the foundation for…

Turning our attention outward from the central fortifications, we focus on the crucial geographical feature that dictated the very placement of Liinmaa Castle: the Eurajoki river. Though the river's course and the sea level have…

We conclude our extensive archaeological and historical tour of Liinmaa Castle here, at the quiet edge of the earthworks, where the forest begins to reclaim the outer moat. Our journey today has required a sustained effort of…