Rapola Castle

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Rapola Castle (Rapolan linnavuori in Finnish) is a hill fort in Sääksmäki in the municipality of Valkeakoski, Finland. As is the case with most hill forts in the Baltic area not much is known about its exact origins or purposes. One postulation is that it was built by the inhabitants in their struggles against invading Novgorodians and Swedes. The name Cuningas de Rapalum appears with 24 other names in a bull by Pope Benedictus XII from the 14th century found in the Registrum Ecclesiae Aboensis of the Turku Cathedral concerning the excommunication of insubordinate inhabitants of Sääksmäki.^[1]. It has been postulated that this name may bear echoes of a title for the lord in Rapola as kuningas (Finnish for king).

According to excavations, the castle seems to have been in operation during the 13th and 15th centuries. Parts of it may be even earlier, since the area has been inhabited already in the 7th century.

The castle was partly constructed on a natural hill that was eventually entirely fortified. Remains of the earth walls are still visible. The castle was 400 meters long and 200 meters wide.