Famed as the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius, Hämeenlinna is the oldest inland city in Finland, granted its city rights in 1639. It sprawls across Saarinen Hill on the shore of Lake Vanajavesi, alongside a settlement that has been in existence since the Iron Age.
Things to do in Hämeenlinna
In the heart of Hämeenlinna is the Skogster Museum, which brings to life the history of the region. It occupies an early 20th-century commercial building alongside the Hämeenlinna Church and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions focusing on locally important themes. The museum also operates the Birthplace of Jean Sibelius, which is decorated in a late-19th-century style, and the bourgeoise residence of Palander House.
At the Hämeenlinna Art Museum, you’ll find an impressive array of visual arts in a multitude of styles from creatives across the globe. Established in 1952, the museum also houses several treasures of Finnish art, including Albert Edelfelt's “Larin Paraske” and Victor Westerholm's “The Post Office Landing Site at Eckerö”.
A short drive north of Hämeenlinna is the Parola Tank Museum, which exhibits tanks, armoured vehicles and anti-tank guns used by the Finnish Defence Forces. Founded in 1961, its highlights include a BT-42 assault gun, a T-50 light tank and an armoured train used during World War II. If you continue driving north, you’ll arrive at the Tenhola Hill Fort, which has been in existence since the Viking Age.
Getting around Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is around a one-hour drive from Tampere and just over an hour from Helsinki. Helsinki Airport is also an hour away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Hämeenlinna railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Hämeenlinna can easily be explored on foot.