Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
crafts. The church is easy to reach from Hämeenlinna by public transport; take bus 5, 6 or
16.
Four kilometres away, on the edge of the village of Parola, and easily accessed off the
Parola;adult/child €7/4, joint ticket with Militaria museum in Hämeenlinna €10; 10am-6pm May-
Sep, 10am-3pm Oct-Apr)
is an imposing exhibition of tanks and armour on a hillside above a
museum that puts them in context and has an exhibition of anti-tank weaponry and Finnish
war memorabilia. You can climb into some tanks; it's a good one for vehicle-obsessed
kids.
HÄME
This region of southern central Finland, also known as Tavastia, has historically been an
important one. The castle at Hämeenlinna was the middle of the line of three imposing
Swedish fortifications across the breadth of Finland. Today this ancient stronghold con-
trasts with the modernity of Lahti, the region's other main city.
Hämeenlinna
03 / Pop 67,800
Dominated by its namesake, majestic Häme Castle, Hämeenlinna (Swedish: Tavastehus) is
Finland's oldest inland town, founded in 1649, though a trading post had existed here since
the 9th century. The Swedes built the castle in the 13th century, and Hämeenlinna deve-
loped into an administrative, educational and garrison town around it. The town is quiet
but picturesque, and its wealth of museums will keep you busy for a day or two. It makes a
good stop between Helsinki and Tampere; you could head on to the latter by lakeboat.
