Hämeenlinna


Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Tavastia in the south of Finland. Hämeenlinna is the oldest inland city of Finland and was one of the most important Finnish cities until the 19th century. It still remains an important regional center.
Hämeenlinna is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and before 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the province of Southern Finland. Nearby cities include the capital Helsinki, Tampere and Lahti, which the last mentioned is the regional center of Päijänne Tavastia.
The medieval Häme Castle is located in the city. The municipalities of Hauho, Kalvola, Lammi, Renko and Tuulos were consolidated with Hämeenlinna on 1 January 2009.

History

There was a settlement called Vanaja by the lake Vanajavesi where the city now stands since the Viking Age. The castle was built in the late 13th century to secure Swedish power in central Finland. A village was established near Häme Castle to provide services and goods to its inhabitants.
The village was granted city rights in 1639 and soon after that the King of Sweden moved it one kilometre south to the hill on which it still stands. The city is known for its schools and academies where many famous Finns have studied. Schools, government and the military have characterised Hämeenlinna's life throughout history. Finland's first railway line opened between Hämeenlinna and Helsinki in 1862. The current Hämeenlinna railway station was built in 1921.

Demographics

Notable natives or residents

Largest employers (by number of employees) , ''Taskutietoa Hämeenlinnasta'', a factbook published by the city of Hämeenlinna ([PDF] download, in Finnish)

Twin towns – Sister cities

Hämeenlinna is twinned with:

  • Toruń, Poland
  • Uppsala, Sweden
  • Weimar, Germany
  • Tartu, Estonia
  • Lucca, Italy

    • Sport

  • Elite level ice hockey teams HPK of the Liiga and HPK Kiekkonaiset of the Naisten Liiga
  • Football teams FC Hämeenlinna and the men's representative team of Hämeenlinnan Härmä, which play in the third-tier Kakkonen, and the women's representative team of Hämeenlinnan Härmä of the second-tier Naisten Ykkönen
  • The city hosted the modern pentathlon competition for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.
  • Hämeenlinna hosted the first round of the Underwater Rugby Euroleague in October 2012 and again in 2015.
  • The Ahvenisto Race Circuit, opened in 1967, hosts many motorsport happenings. Track has Fia Grade 4 license.