Construction of the castle

King Charles IX of Sweden commisioned to build a castle on a small island in the River Vuohenginjoki. The location was an established road-waterway junction.

The castle was built in two stages during the 1600s. Firstly, between 1604 and 1619, two round gun turrets were built out of stone at either end of a single storey perimeter wall. Inside the castle courtyard were wooden dwellings. Bridges connected the island castle to riverbanks.

During the 1660s the castle was completely renovated under the direction of Per Brahe. The towers were raised and a second storey was added to the perimeter wall. The log houses inside the castle were replaced by new stone dwellings with glass windows and limewashed walls. The outer walls of the castle were also white with red embrasures.

As there was insufficient room inside the castle courtyard for all the necessary buildings some dwellings and storerooms were located on one or other riverbank. In addition to salaried builders and soldiers, the construction of the castle required the conscription of the peasantry of Kainuu. Throughout almost the entire 17^th century Kainuu peasants were obliged to work six days each year on the building of the castle.

Kajaani Castle was the strongest defence fortification in northern Finland. It was so formidable that throughout the 1600s the Russians did not even attempt an attack. Only during the Great Northern War and after a long siege did the castle fall to Russian forces. On taking the castle the Russians proceeded to blow it up in March of 1716.