Misplaced Pages

Hämeensilta
Hämeensilta and the Tampere Theatre
Coordinates	61°29′52.5″N 023°45′49.0″E / 61.497917°N 23.763611°E / 61.497917; 23.763611
Carries	cars, bicycles, pedestrians
Crosses	Tammerkoski
Locale	Tampere, Finland
Characteristics
Design	Arch
Material	Stone
Total length	68 m (223 ft)
Width	28.5 m (94 ft)
Clearance above	40 m (131 ft)
History
Opened	1929
Location

Hämeensilta (the ″Häme Bridge″) is a bridge in Tampere, Finland, crossing the Tammerkoski rapids. The main street of Tampere, Hämeenkatu, runs along the bridge, connecting the Kyttälä district to the western parts of the city center. Hämeensilta is one of the city's best known landmarks, especially famous for the statues on the rails of the bridge. The arches of the bridge are made of concrete and they are coated with a red granite. The 68-metre-long (223 ft) Hämeensilta was completed in 1929. It is named after the Finnish name of the Tavastia province.

History

The first known bridge crossing the Tammerkoski was built in the 16th century as the area was a part of the Messukylä socken. As the town of Tampere was established in 1779, the wooden bridge was finally replaced with a steel structured in 1884. During the early 1900s, Tampere was rapidly growing and the present Hämeensilta was built in 1928–1929. The 1900 completed Satakunnansilta is the other large bridge crossing Tammerkoski in the Tampere city center.

Sculptures

The 4.5 metres (15 ft) tall bronze statues were donated by the local businessman Rafael Haarla and made by the prominent Finnish sculptor Wäinö Aaltonen. One is a female figure of the Finnish Maiden, while the other three, the Tax Collector, the Merchant and the Hunter, are describing Medieval birkarls. The Maiden of Finland is featured on a postage stamp and in 1939 it was on display at the World's Fair in New York City.

See also

• Erkkilän silta

References

1. "Hämeensilta". Cityseeker. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
2. Hokka, Jenni. "Uusi Hämeensilta". University of Tampere (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
3. "Hämeensilta Bridge". Old Tampere. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
4. ^ "Tampereen Hämeensillan Pirkkalaisveistokset". Tampere Museum of Contemporary Art (in Finnish). 2003. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
5. Peltonen, Lotta. "Best places to take a Tampere selfie". Visit Tampere. Retrieved 5 March 2017.

v t e Tampere Cityscape
Buildings	City Hall Tampere Hall Market Hall Workers' Hall City Central Office Building Bus Station Central Station Central Library Central Hospital Central Police Station Central Fire Station Näsilinna Palace Commerce House
Places of worship	Tampere Cathedral Old Church Church of the Alexander Nevsky and the Saint Nicholas Baptist Church Alexander Church Kaleva Church Finlayson Church Holy Cross Church
Universities and colleges	Tampere University University of Tampere University of Applied Sciences Police University College Vocational College Tredu
Parks & gardens	Hämeenpuisto Eteläpuisto Koskipuisto Wilhelm von Nottbeck Park Pyynikki Hatanpää Arboretum Posteljooninpuisto
City squares	Central Square Tammelantori Sori Square Laukontori Väinö Linna Square
Tourist attractions	Särkänniemi Hatanpää Manor Hirvitalo Näsinneula Pyynikki observation tower
Hotels	Hotel Torni Hotel Tammer Hotel Ilves
Museums	Moomin Museum Vapriikki Museum Centre Finnish Ice Hockey Museum Finnish Museum of Games Natural History Museum Rupriikki Media Museum Milavida Museum Lenin Museum Spy Museum
Sport venues	Kauppi Stadium Nokia Arena Ratina Stadium Ice Stadium Tammelan Stadion
Performing arts	Theatres Tampere Theatre Comedy Theatre Workers' Theatre Pyynikki Summer Theatre Music venues Tampere Opera
Other venues	Tammerkoski Pispala Rajaportin sauna Hämeensilta Kalevankangas Cemetery Tampella Exhibition and Sports Centre Viikinsaari

• Bridges completed in 1929
• Bridges in Finland
• Buildings and structures in Tampere
• Deck arch bridges
• Transport in Tampere