Loviisa, Finland, is a seaside town with a population of nearly 16 000. The town centre is located about 87 km east of Helsinki, along the road to St. Petersburg. The new town of Loviisa (Lovisa in Swedish) was born on January 1st 2010 when former Loviisa, Liljendal, Pernaja and Ruotsinpyhtää were joined together. Loviisa is best known for its fortifications, the wooden houses in its Old Town and the Strömfors Iron Works. Both Finnish and Swedish (Finland's two official languages) are traditionally spoken in the Loviisa area.