4.5.3 Finland: Tampere, the third largest city of Finland
Description
This article is from the Nordic countries FAQ, by Antti Lahelma and Johan Olofsson, with numerous contributions by others.
4.5.3 Finland: Tampere, the third largest city of Finland
<from: Kari Yli-Kuha >
Tampere (in Swedish Tammerfors) lies about 160 km northwest of
Helsinki. A major manufacturing hub and the textile center of
Finland, Tampere also produces metals, heavy machinery, pulp,
and paper, etc. The heavy concentration of industry has
prompted some to call it Finland's Manchester (the center, with
several rather attractive old factory buildings, looks pretty
industrial, too).
Just currently some old factories, such as Finlayson and
Tampella, and their wide factory areas in the centre of the
city are being renovated and partly rebuilt, but still in an
attempt to maintain the architectural general appearance.
Tampere was founded in 1779 and is the largest inland city in
Scandinavia. The location between two lakes, Näsijärvi and
Pyhäjärvi, and the rapids (Tammerkoski) joining the lakes gave
birth to the industry in the city. The cathedral by Lars Sonck
is a masterpiece of Finnish national-romantic Art Nouveau; it's
frescoes by the symbolist painter Hugo Simberg are especially
fascinating. Lake tours, "Hopealinja" (Silver Line) in
Pyhäjärvi and "Runoilijan tie" (Poet's Way) in Näsijärvi, are
popular in the summer. A gravel ridge, Pispalan harju, and the
settlement there is also a major tourist attraction. Tampere
has two theatres (TT and TTT) and a summer theatre with a
revolving auditorium. The Särkänniemi amusement park is very
popular in the summer. The new Tampere Hall is currently the
second most popular place in Finland (after Finlandia House in
Helsinki) for international congresses, large special events
and exhibitions.
One of the gastronomic delicacies typical for Tampere is black
sausage ("mustamakkara") which is made of blood, though not
nearly all regard it as a delicacy.
Other tips:
+ Main shopping street Hämeenkatu
+ "Koskikeskus" shopping center by the rapids
+ Pyynikki natural park only two kilometres west from downtown
+ A 20 min ferry trip to Viikinsaari island
For more information on Tampere:
A clicable map of Tampere WWW-resources:
<http://www.funet.fi:80/resources/maps/tampere/>
Official Tampere city information:
<http://www.tampere.fi/>
Maps of Tampere:
<http://www.uta.fi/maps/sisluettelo.html>
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