A slightly longer route from Tampere to Lahti is via Hämeenlinna, the capital of the historical province of Tavastia (Häme). There is a medieval castle in Hämeenlinna built in the late 13th century. Modern Hämeenlinna is the capital of the province of Tavastia Proper (Kanta-Häme) and has about 80,000 inhabitants (about 48,000 in the urban area). The urban area of Lahti has three times as many inhabitants and there is a definite smalltown feel to Hämeenlinna. The urban core is quite small. Hämeenlinna is about 73 km south of Tampere and 100 km north of Helsinki on the Helsinki-Tampere motorway. Before going to Hämeenlinna, I visited Hattula just north of Hämeenlinna, and took some photos of its medieval church, Holy Cross Church built in the late 15th century. I also visited Aulanko, a park with a viewing tower built from granite in the 1930's.
Holy Cross Church, Hattula.
Häme Castle.
Aulanko viewing tower.
A view from the inside.
Lake Aulankojärvi. The views were a bit of a disappointment. Couldn't see the city.
This one was taken from a platform next to the tower. Magical mist.
From the path leading up to the tower. The shoreline of the ancient sea, Yoldia Sea, about 10,000 years ago, used to be on the slope of the hill on top of which the tower was built.
A view of central modern Hämeenlinna. That one is actually pretty. The houses are from the 19th or century and are located close to the castle, which in turn is located about 1 km from the modern centre.
Not all of Hämeenlinna is very pretty. Some modern monstrosities that were built in place of old dilapidated buildings in the name of efficiency in the 1970s.