Hämeenlinna (Swedish: Tavastehus) is a Finnish city on the shores
of Vanajavesi in the province of Kanta-Häme. It is the center of
Kanta-Häme province and, founded in 1639, Finland's oldest inland
city. Hämeenlinna is known as a traditional administrative, school
and cultural city.
The neighboring municipalities of
Hämeenlinna are Akaa, Asikkala, Hattula, Hausjärvi, Hollola,
Janakkala, Loppi, Padasjoki, Pälkäne, Tammela, Urjala and
Valkeakoski. It is 100 kilometers from the center of Hämeenlinna to
Helsinki and 75 kilometers to Tampere. The Hämeenlinna area grew
significantly on 1 January 2009, when Hauho, Kalvola, Lammi, Renko
and Tuulos joined the city of Hämeenlinna. Prior to this, the rural
municipality of Hämeenlinna and the municipality of Vanaja had been
connected mainly to Hämeenlinna and partly to neighboring
municipalities.
Nature
There are a total of 339 lakes in whole or
in part in the area of the city of Hämeenlinna. The largest of
them are Vanajavesi, Kukkia and Kuohijärvi.
The center of
Hämeenlinna is located in Southern Häme, in the Vanajavesi valley,
which is also classified as a national landscape, and which is
divided by the north-south Vanajavesi, which is narrow in its
southern part. Other significant lakes in Hämeenlinna are
Katumajärvi and Alajärvi. The northwest-southeast ridge line runs
through the urban area, parts of which include Ahvenistonharju and
Hattelmalanharju. The terrain is otherwise undulating; The center of
Hämeenlinna and, for example, the Myllymäki and Hätilä Districts are
located at the top of larger hills. The city has a few mountains
used as castle mountains in prehistoric times, the most significant
of which are Aulangonuori and the mainland castle mountain.
The main features of the Hämeenlinna landscape are the Häme Lake
Plateau, the Vanajavesi Valley and the Kanta-Häme Grove Center. In
many places, the landscapes are marked by the prosperous Hämäläinen
agricultural culture.
Nature reserves
There are several
nature reserves in the city, the largest of which are located in the
popular recreation areas of Aulango and Ahvenisto on the outskirts
of the city. In addition, Hämeenlinna has Finland's first national
city park, established in 2001, which extends from the wooden house
areas of Koilliskulma and Häme Castle, following the shores of
Vanajavesi to Aulango. In the former municipality of Lammi, which
was connected to Hämeenlinna in 2009, there is a relatively
well-known Evo hiking area.