Hämeenlinna

Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about 68,000 inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Tavastia and the modern province of Kanta-Häme 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 remains an important regional center. The medieval Häme Castle is located in the city.

Hämeenlinna is known as the birthplace of Finnish national 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, the regional center of Päijänne Tavastia.