A castle opera festival in the Finnish Lakeland
Savonlinna is built across islands in the Saimaa lake system, the largest in Finland and the heart of the Lakeland. Its 15th-century Olavinlinna castle rises straight from the water and each July hosts the Savonlinna Opera Festival in its courtyard. The surrounding lakes are home to the rare Saimaa ringed seal, and Linnansaari National Park can be explored by canoe. Days here are spent on lake steamers, in lakeside saunas and cottages, and eating muikku, small fried vendace fish.