Tampere

Tampere is a city positioned between two lakes in the southern part of Finland. The Tammerkoski rapids link both bodies of water and run through the central core in a narrow channel crossed by several bridges.

Gustav III of Sweden founded the settlement in 1779 as a market town for the Pirkanmaa region. Textile mills and machinery workshops grew along the rapids during the 19th century, turning the location into a major production hub in Finland.

The Mänttä Art Collection housed in former factory buildings displays contemporary Finnish painting behind tall brick walls. Visitors walk through production halls converted into galleries, where light streams through industrial windows across the wooden floors.

Tram lines and buses connect neighborhoods across the area and reach residential zones outside the center. Tampere-Pirkkala Airport sits to the west and offers flights to Finnish and European destinations.

The 18-meter (59-foot) drop between the two lakes generates hydroelectric power through the downtown rapids. This natural gradient once drove mills and now supplies energy to urban networks.

Location: Pirkanmaa

Inception: October 1, 1779

Founders: Gustav III of Sweden

Shares border with: Kangasala, Lempäälä, Nokia, Orivesi, Pirkkala, Ruovesi, Ylöjärvi

Website: https://tampere.fi

GPS coordinates: 61.49806,23.76000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:00