In summer, the imposing Olavinlinna moated castle in the middle of the idyllic lake district is transformed into a musical fairytale castle: the opera festival in the middle of the Finnish countryside, first organised in 1912, has established itself as the country’s leading cultural event with more than 60,000 visitors a year. In addition to opera classics such as "Nabucco", "Don Giovanni" and "Lohengrin", the programme includes "Adriana Mater" by the recently deceased compatriot Kaija Saariaho and Janáček’s "Katya Kabanová", two less frequently performed but no less exciting productions. The magnificent castle provides a wonderful backdrop for the long Nordic summer nights - let it enchant you too! This "insider tip" can be reached either by flight or by transfer from Helsinki.