Understand

---

The city of Tampere lies on an isthmus situated between Lake Näsijärvi, which reaches far to the north, and Lake Pyhäjärvi in the south. The Tammerkoski rapids that run through Tampere connect the two lakes with a fall of 18 metres. In the 7th century population started to gather to this connecting point of two waterways, and in the 18th century people started to understand the importance of the rapids as a way of making hydropower. So it came to be that Tampere was officially founded in the 1st of October in 1779 by Gustav III of Sweden.

During the 19th century Tampere grew rapidly to be an industrial center, and in the latter part of the century the town had almost half of Finland's industrial labour, earning it the nickname Manchester of the North — which still lives on in the city's nickname Manse. Most of the industry was centered around the rapids, with the textile and paper industries particularly important.

During the Finnish Civil War (1918) Tampere was one of the Red (Communist) strongholds, and it was supposed to be the country's next capital. However, in April 1918 the victorious White forces captured the town after a large battle and seized 10,000 prisoners.

In 1927 the first of the factories stopped industrial operations, and city offices later moved into the empty buildings. After 1960 most of the factories started to cease operations, but the buildings were kept. Nowadays central Tampere is characterized by these old red-brick industrial buildings, most of them housing offices, restaurants, and cultural activities.

Orientation
Tampere city centre has a couple of prominent features:

Main street Hämeenkatu runs from east to west. At the east end of the street is the railway station and at the west end the Alexander church . Many shops, restaurants and offices are located on the main street. The main street continues to east as Itsenäisyydenkatu and to west as Pirkankatu.

Tammerkoski rapids run from lake Näsijärvi in north to lake Pyhäjärvi in south, via Finlayson historical factory area, by riverside park, TAKO factory and Kehräsaari. It's just over 1 kilometer long. The height difference between the two lakes is 18 meters, but the rapids don't flow freely as there are dams and hydroelectric power stations built on the rapids.

The central square is located right next to the bridge where Hämeenkatu crosses Tammerkoski rapids.

The city center continues to the shore of lake Näsijärvi in north and lake Pyhäjärvi in south.

Most of the hotels, shops and attractions are located within walking distance from each other.

Pyynikki ridge and Pispala are located couple of kilometers west of the city centre.

Eat

---

Tampere is (in)famous for its black sausage (mustamakkara), a sausage made of blood. The most authentic (and cheapest) way to try this is to buy from one of the stalls at the Tammelantori or Laukontori markets, with a dab of lingonberry jam and a pint of milk on the side, but old Tampere hands will insist that the one true condiment is a mix of lingonberry jam...