Hämeenlinna (Tavastehus in Swedish) is a municipality and city of about 47,000 inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and is the residence city for the Governor of the province of Southern Finland. Nearby cities include the capital Helsinki (100 km), Tampere (73 km) and Lahti (72 km)
The medieval Häme castle (Hämeen linna) is located in the city.
There has been a settlement in where the city now stands since the Iron age. In the 11th century the entire province was under influence of both Sweden and Novgorod, and the Castle of Häme (Hämeen linna from where the Finnish name Hämeenlinna comes from). A village was born during time near to the castle to provide services and goods to inhabitants.
The village was granted city rights in 1639 and soon after that the King of Sweden moved it one kilometre south on the hill where it now stands.
The city is has always been known for its schools and academies where many famous Finns have studied. Schools, government and military are characterized Hämeenlinna's life althrough history.
The composer Jean Sibelius was born in Hämeenlinna.
Poet Eino Leino graduated from high school in Hämeenlinna. (Hämeenlinnan lyseon lukio is Hämeenlinna Lyseo Upper secondary school, roughly the equivalent of a US highschool).
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