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Social programme
Welcome reception in Turku Castle
The City of Turku invites the participants of the 10th Nordic Public Health Conference to a welcome reception in Turku Castle on Wednesday 24th August 2011 at 6.30 pm.
Conference dinner at Brankis
The conference dinner will be held on Thursday 25th August at 7 pm in Brankis. Cost of the conference dinner 65 e.
For several decades, Brankis has served as a place for enjoying music, good food, new contacts and dance. We have an opportunity to experience all this at the conference dinner during the 10th Public Health Conference in Turku. The dinner includes a buffet meal accompanied with good wine. At the dinner, the history of “the house and burns” will be presented. There is also an opportunity for participants to present greetings from their countries. The best parts of the Finnish dancing tradition will be introduced, together with music by new artists and performances by the fire brigades own orchestra. Everyone can join the dancing! Welcome and enjoy!
Turku Castle
Building of Turku Castle began in approximately 1280. The Swedish conquerors of Finland intended it originally as a military fortress. During the next two centuries its defences were strengthened and living quarters were added. During the time of Duke Johan the appearance of the castle was significantly improved by constructing new halls for the king and the queen and by decorating the interior. The castle served as a bastion and administrative centre in Eastland, as Finland was then known, during the Swedish period. It also served as a prison and the last prisoners were transferred to the new central prison in 1890. The castle was seriously damaged in1941, but was rebuilt and is now entrusted to the use of the city of Turku. Today the castle functions in its entirety as a historical museum as part of the Turku provincial museum. In the main part of the castle are banquet rooms for the city of Turku, a church for the local congregation and also restaurants in both the main castle and the bailey.
Brankis
This fire brigade station was designed by architect Karl Victor Renius and was completed in 1892. It was the second fire brigade station made of stone in the country. Brankis is situated in the middle of the City Turku on a block of land donated to the freelance fire brigade by the city. The building was not only used for the functions of the fire brigade but has always also served as a festival hall for citizens. The building is protected and has been cautiously renovated to meet today’s needs.
Turku University
The first University was founded in the City of Turku in 1640. When Helsinki replaced Turku as the capital of Finland in 1812, the University was moved to Helsinki. Today Turku has both Finnish and Swedish speaking universities: University of Turku and Åbo Akademi. Both of these universities are situated in an old academy area near the Dome Church. In August, the University of Turku serves as the conference premises for the 10th Nordic Public Health Conference.