Historic places in Tampere

Historic places in Tampere

1. See

   Amuri Museum of Workers' Housing

   Amurin työläismuseokortteli

   Amuri is a block of 19th-century wooden houses turned into an open-air museum that vividly displays how the working-class used to live between 1880s and 1970s. The houses form an almost closed inner court, and there is a nice old-fashioned cafe with seatings both indoors and in the courtyard. Highly recommended for history buffs, but interesting to others as well.

   Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (summer only)·Adults €6, children (7-16) €1

2. Drink

   Amurin helmi

   Cosy atmosphere in a historic wooden building which is part of Amuri museum of workers' housing. They serve Tampere specialities and homemade bread to go with the brew.

   Every day from 10:00 to 17:00 (during summer from 10:00 to 18:00)

3. Buy

   Finlayson factory store

   While the historic Tampere factory is no more operational, you can still feel their rich heritage of manufacturing quality textiles since 1820 in a factory store on the premises. The place to buy textiles, towels, bed concepts, duvets, pillows and mattresses.

   Mon–Fri 10:00–17:30, Sat 10:00–15:00

4. See

   Finlayson historic factory complex

   Collection of historic factory buildings gradually extended from a textile mill founded by a Scotsman named James Finlayson in 1820. The oldest building, six-storey high-rise TR1, dates back to 1837. The complex also includes the factory church, now the most popular wedding church in Tampere, stable yards with arts and crafts shops and pony rides, and the owner's mansion with park and a restaurant. The factory buildings have been transformed into shops, restaurants, museums, movie theatres, and office spaces. Well worth visiting for anyone.

5. See

   Finnish Labour Museum Werstas

   Työväenmuseo Werstas

   The exhibitions at Werstas offer an overview of the history of the industrial era, worker population and civil society from different perspectives. At Werstas, you can visit the Textile Industry Museum, the Steam Engine Museum and the Labour Museum's changing and permanent exhibitions. The huge steam engine that used to give power to the entire factory complex is the definite high point of Werstas.

   Tue–Sun 11:00–18:00·Free

6. See

   Haihara Mansion

   Haiharan kartano

   A peaceful place to visit on a warm summer day. There is a cafe, art exhibitions and a garden. The mansion's history dates back to 16th century. The last stop of bus line 15 is near Haihara.

7. Eat

   Henriks

   A modern Finnish restaurant in a beautiful historic building. They also serve a vegetarian menu and a small supper at €18.

   Tue-Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat 13:00-23:00

8. Buy

   Kehräsaari

   Small and genuine art and crafts shops, restaurants, an arthouse cinema, and a souvenir store in a historic factory buildings right next to the rapids.

9. See

   Market Hall

   Built in 1901, the historic market hall is still a beautiful social focal point of the city. Lots of fresh goods, cafes, cheap local eateries and infinite people watching opportunities.

   Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00, Sat 08:00–15:00

10. Buy

    Market Hall

    Kauppahalli

    Fresh food and other shopping in a historical market hall built in 1901. It is said to be the second biggest market hall of its kind in the world.

11. See

    Messukylä Old Church

    Messukylän vanha kirkko

    The oldest building in Tampere, built in medieval times with parts dating back to the 1400s. Unheated and thus open only from May to August.

12. See

    Police Museum

    Poliisimuseo

    A museum presenting the history of the Finnish police, established in 2004.

    Tue–Fri 10:00–16:00, Sat 12:00–17:00·free

13. Do

    Rajaportin sauna

    The oldest still-functioning public sauna in Finland. In old days, people who didn't have a sauna of their own went to a public sauna to clean up. In addition to seeing a piece of history, you can experience one of the best quality saunas in the world: the stove is 3 m³ in size and contains over a ton of stones that are heated literally glowing red with burning logs. After simmering for a couple of hours, the sauna is ready for the customers, and it doesn't get any bigger or better than this!

    Mon Wed 18:00–22:00, Fri 15:00–21:00, Sat 14:00–22:00·Adults €5 (F until 17:00 and M €3), children (7–16) €1

14. See

    Rupriikki

    Media museum focusing on the history and development of mass communications. There is also an exhibition on the history of the Internet, and a bunch of cool retro computer and video games in the GameCabinet.

    Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00·Adults €5, children (7–16) and students €1

15. See

    Tampella historic factory complex

    Founded in 1844, Tampella is the other major remaining historic factory complex in Tampere. Tampella factories started as iron works, but later were converted into a cotton mill and a textile factory, and finally into a machine shop and a groundwood plant. Operated until 1991, Tampella factories manufactured, among others, water turbines, ships, paper machines, steam engines, trains, artillery and airplane engines. Many of the beautiful original buildings remain and have been converted into theatres, museums and office spaces.

16. See

    Tampere Cathedral

    Tampereen tuomiokirkko

    Imposing church in the National Romantic style, designed by architect Lars Sonck and completed in 1907. The interior has a series of famously macabre frescos by Hugo Simberg, including The Wounded Angel (once voted Finland's "national painting") and the Garden of Death.

17. See

    Vapriikki

    Museum centre with ten exhibitions varying from prehistory to technology and art. Exhibitions include the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, Doll Museum, Shoe Museum and Tampere Museum of Natural History.

    Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00,·Adults €8, children (7–16) and students €, pensioners and unemployed €6. Some exhibitions may cost extra

18. See

    Lielahti Manor

    A historically significant manor house dating back to 1872.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tampere (CC BY-SA 4.0).