Tampere Tourist Attractions
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Tampere (Swedish Tammerfors) was founded in 1779 as an industrial settlement and is now Finland's third largest town (the largest inland town in Scandinavia) and the country's leading industrial city.
Central Square
Tampere's principal street is Hämeenkatu, which runs from the railroad station by way of Keskustori (Central Square) to the wide avenue Hämeenpuisto. In the square is the Hämeensilta (bridge), with four figures by Wäinö Aaltonen (1929): the Tax-Collector, the Hunter, the Tradesman and the Finnish Maiden. Nearby is the former municipal library, in neo-Classical style, in front of which is another work by Aaltonen, a monument (1928) to Aleksis Kivi ("The Muse blessing the Poet").The most notable buildings in Keskustori are the neo-Classical Old Church (by Carlo Bassi, 1824), on a cruciform plan, with an Empire-style belfry (by C. L. Engel, 1828); the Town Hall, in neo-Renaissance style (by Georg Schreck, 1890) and the neo-Classical Tampere Theatre (by Kauno S. Kallio, 1913). By the rapids (koski) is the Koskikeskus shopping center.
Niinisalo-Tampere Pirkka Ski Race
Niinisalo-Tampere Pirkka Ski Race (90km) is in March.
Winter Games
Tampere Winter Games are in January.
Tampere Cathedral
Tampere's imposing Cathedral is reached from Hämeenkatu by way of the Koskipuisto (park) along the Tammerkoski to Satakunnankatu, then to the right along this street to Rautatienkatu. The Cathedral (by Lars Sonck, 1902-07) is a very typical example of Finnish Art Nouveau architecture, with wall and ceiling paintings by Hugo Simberg, an altar fresco of the Resurrection by Magnus Enckell and liturgical utensils by Eric O. V. Ehrström.
University Tampere Hall
Notable buildings to the east of the Tampere station are the University (by Toivo Korhonen, 1961) and the Tampere Hall, an ultra-modern concert and congress hall (by Sakari Aartelo and Esa Piironen, 1990). A few minutes' walk northeast of the Tampere Hall is the Kaleva Church (by Reima and Raili Pietilä, 1966), an austere concrete structure which is still the subject of controversy a quarter of a century after its completion. In the Liisanpuisto (park) is the Kalevala Monument, a massive bronze sculpture by Terho Sakki (1973). At the east end of the park is Kauppakatu.
Kauppi Park
Along Tampere's Kauppakatu to the north lies Kauppi Park, with an extensive range of recreational facilities, including a marina, a riding school, an archery range, a greyhound racing track, a sports institute and an observatory.
Pyynikki Park
Southwest of the Tampere city center, on the slopes of a hill (152m/499ft), lies the large Pyynikki Park, in which is an open-air theater with a revolving auditorium; in summer performances are given here by the Workers' Theater. To the west of the park is the old district of Piispala, a hilly part of the town with old wooden houses.
Särkänniemi Amusement Park
Northeast of Pyynikki and east-northeast of Piispala, on the shores of the Näsijärvi, we come to the Särkänniemi Amusement Park, in which is the Sara Hildén Museum of Art (1979; modern Finnish and international art). A conspicuous landmark in the park is the Näsinneula observation tower (173m/568ft), with a revolving restaurant at 120-125m/390-410ft. In addition to merry-go-rounds and other diversions there is an aquarium, a dolphinarium and a planetarium.
Lenin Museum
The Lenin Museum in Tampere opened on January 20, 1946, to commemorate the anniversary of Lenin's death. It was the first one of its kind outside the Soviet Union.There are facts about V.I. Lenin himself, and especially the role he played in the independence of Finland.
Tampere Art Museum
The Tampere Art Museum obtains mainly Finnish art from 19th century to the present day.
Sara Hildén Art Museum
The Sara Hildén Art Museum presents over 4,500 modern Finnish and international art works that spans a 40 year period.
Festival of Workers' Music, Valkeakoski, Finland
The Workers' Music Festival features Finnish music, gypsy tunes, folk songs and Baltic and Latvian styles for this annual event, which takes place in late July.
Tampere to Virrat by Boat
The trip from Tampere to Virrat by boat takes about eight hours. The distance by road, via Teisko, is 120km/75mi. This route, renowned for its scenic beauty, is known in Finland as the "Poets' Way" and will introduce visitors to a stretch of very typical Finnish scenery.From Tampere (Mustalahti, to the north of the town) the ship sails north up the Näsijärvi with its many bays and inlets. On the east side of the lake is the village of Teisko, with the Maisansalo leisure center (tennis courts, saunas, boating harbor, etc.). In about 2.5 hours the ship reaches the Murole Canal (lock). While it is passing through the lock there is time to see the Murole Falls, a short distance away to the right. The canal leads into the next lake, Palovesi, and the ship then continues through narrow channels and the open Jäminselkä to the Kautu Canal (swing bridge) and along this into the Ruovesi. On a crag to the left can be seen a house once occupied by the well-known Finnish painter Akseli Gallén-Kallela (1865-1931).
Ruovesi
Along the west side of Palovesi lake (about 4.75 hours from Tampere) is the beautifully situated village of Ruovesi, now a popular summer resort, where the poet J. L. Runeberg was tutor in a private household (commemorative plaque).Ruovesi is located near Helvetinjärvi National Park with deep gorges and two lakes that attract visitors.
Witches Festival
Concerts, exhibitions, drama in July.This festival reenacts the witch trials that began in Ruovesi in 1643. The four-day festival takes place in early July with various events such as theatrical performances, musical concerts and displays of local customs and traditions.
Tampere to Hämeenlinna by the Silver Line
A very attractive trip through beautiful scenery is on a motor-launch of the Silver Line to Hämeenlinna, southeast of Tampere.
Virrat
After Ruovesi the ship sails north into the Tarjannevesi, a lake dotted with islands, and through the Visuvesi Canal into the Vaskivesi, at the north end of which is the village of Virrat.
Virrat Heritage Village
The village presents 19th century farm life and traditions. Rajalahti House Museum displays the restored field fortifications area from the World War I. Nearby are Herrasko-ski Canal and Herraskoski Canal Museum.
Map of Tampere Attractions
Map - Tampere / Tammerfors
