Major Attractions In by newsdesk

Tampere has lots of scope for making interesting discoveries- and if you like nature, this is one city you’re going to enjoy. Tampere is surrounded by extremely beautiful hills and parks- the area and are great for wandering through, even if you’re not an avid trekker. For those who like their exploring in more urban surroundings, the Tallipiha Stable Yard is worth a visit. An area of restored 19th century buildings, Tallipiha has quaint old workshops, craft shops, horse carriages and pretty cafés which sell perhaps the best Finnish sweets in town. For a more distant view of the city, make your way to the top of the Näsinneula Observation Tower- often regarded as the symbol of Tampere and with a splendidly panoramic view of the city and its environs. Depending upon where your interests lie, you could visit some of Tampere’s sights: the Moominvalley Museum, devoted to the popular Moomin family created by Finnish children’s author Tove Jansson; the excellent Art Museum of Tampere; the Sara Hildén Art Museum; and the city cathedral. The cathedral, called the Toumikirkko, has some rather startling and morbid frescoes by the painter Hugo Simberg. Viikinsaari Island, accessible by boat, is also good for a trip- it has a dance parlour, a restaurant, kiosks, and lots of opportunity for relaxing- whether you go for a family picnic, or play football, or just laze about. Housed in an entire block of wooden houses dating back to the 19th century, the Amuri Workers’ Museum is actually much more interesting than its name suggests. The entire block is in an excellent state of preservation, so much so that it really brings alive the Tampere of the 1800s. Included in the museum are a series of workshops and homes from the 19th century- there is a bakery, a café, a shoemaker’s shop and even items- photos, newspapers, old biscuit packets and the like- which help lend the museum a very authentic feel. Each restored home included in the museum documents the daily life of the workers, and offers a good insight into the social life of `good old Tampere’. Considered to be one of the best museums in Tampere, the Lenin Museum is dedicated to the communist leader, who at one time had lived in the city. After an abortive attempt at a communist coup in 1905, Lenin had fled to , and had spent some time in the country. During this period, he had also attended, in the building which today houses the Lenin Museum, a number of meetings known as the Tampere Conferences. The museum houses a lot of Lenin memorabilia, most of it concentrating on the ties between the leader and the people of Finland- through photographs, contemporary newspapers and other items. The museum building was also the place where Lenin met Stalin, although there’s little mention of this in the museum itself. Highly recommended if you have leftist leanings. One of Finland’s most well-known and popular amusement parks, the Särkänniemi is a definite `must-see’ if you’ve got children along, or are young at heart. Within the park are around 30 carnival rides, besides a planetarium, a children’s zoo and a tall observation tower which has a revolving restaurant at the top. The highlight of Särkänniemi is, however, its aquarium and dolphinarium. The dolphinarium, a particular hit with the younger generation, has daily dolphin shows and training sessions. Another of Tampere’s famed parks, the Arboretum, at Hatanpään puistokuja, is a huge expanse which includes a rose garden, a rock garden, and some 500-odd species of plants. In the midst of it all stands the sumptuous Hatanpään Manor and a villa, known as the Villa Idman. The manor, especially, is worth a visit, as it houses the excellent Museum of Dolls and Costumes- a collection of some 5,000 dolls from across the world, including the doll of a 12th century Inca child from South America. The Arboretum stretches along the shore of the Pyhäjärvi lake, and there are lots of walking and cycling paths which follow the curve of the lake’s shore. The entire area is vastly popular with locals as well as visitors, who come here to picnic, walk, sunbathe or just relax. A verdant and refreshing swathe of pine forest in the heart of the city, the Pyynikki Ridge extends along the rapids between lake Näsijärvi and lake Pyhäjärvi. Formed during the last Ice Age, the Pyynikki Ridge is the world’s oldest gravel ridge, and is designated a protected natural area. The ridge is excellent for hiking- or even going for a comparatively less strenuous stroll- and the observation tower at the summit of the ridge offers a wonderful view of Tampere. At the foot of the ridge are a beach and a summer theatre, where regular performances are held during the tourist season. If you’re keen on Finnish art, the Hiekka Art Gallery houses a collection you can’t afford to miss. The gallery, which is located at Pirkankatu 6, is best known for its excellent display of sketches by Gallén-Kallela and Helene Schjerfbeck; but there’s also a section on metalwork which is worth a look. Most of the metalwork- that includes some exquisite silverware- is very finely worked, and has been donated to the museum by a certain Kustaa Hiekka, after whom the museum is named.

Major Attractions In Tampere by newsdesk