The City of Hämeenlinna Hämeenlinna is the administrative centre of the province of Southern Finland, a traditional and vibrant educational and cultural town at the junction of nationally important rail, road and water way network. Hämeenlinna presents the ideal combination of nature and culture. Already 365 years old, the city is full of historical sights and surrounded by beautiful nature reserves. The city's landmark is the medieval red brick castle. Hämeenlinna is famous for its unique Aulanko Park. It is also the birthplace of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Today, Hämeenlinna enjoys a vibrant commercial and artistic life. Among its best-known output are beautiful and valuable design products. A stroll down the Linnankatu street samples the city's sights, restaurants and boutiques. In addition, it gives the visitor a first taste of this historical city. Congress Venue Hotel Rantasipi Aulanko, address: Aulangontie 93 (5 km from the centre of Hämeenlinna).
The Aulanko Hotel offers comfortable accommodation. The Finnish as well as foreign elite has felt at home there since 1873. Numerous visitors enjoyed the hospitality of Colonel Hugo Standerskjöld, the founder of Aulanko, as early as over a hundred years ago. At the moment the Hotel Rantasipi Aulanko is under renovation and new activities will be added to the hotel. In spring 2006 multi-active centre, including spa and bowling alleys, will be opened. Travel instructions
The widely famed traditions of the Rantasipi Aulanko as
an excellent venue for congresses and celebrations go
back sixty years. The hotel is situated in the culturally and
historically unique landscape of the Aulanko nature park. Getting to Hämeenlinna and Aulanko:
Hämeenlinna is situated between the main railway line from Helsinki to Tampere as well as on the junction of the motorway and main road 10, only one hour's drive from both Helsinki and Tampere. There are excellent train connections from Helsinki and Tampere to Hämeenlinna. Trains depart every hour except at night time. Traveling time is about one hour. For more information about trains please visit the website: www.vr.fi. If you arrive at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, the easiest way to get directly to Hämeenlinna from the airport is to take an ExpressBus. The ExpressBus also departs from the main bus terminal Kamppi in Helsinki. The bus from Helsinki to Hämeenlinna departs every 1-2 hours. If you arrive at Tampere-Pirkkala airport, the best way to get to Hämeenlinna, is to take a taxi to the Tampere bus terminal, from where the ExpressBus to Hämeenlinna departs almost every hour. Travelling time from both Helsinki and Tampere is one hour and 30 minutes. For more information and timetables, please visit the website: www.expressbus.com. The preferred airline is Scandinavian Airline SAS. To obtain a special fare from SAS, please call your nearest SAS office and quote your reference number FI0605. In Hämeenlinna, buses number 2 and 13 run every 30 minutes from the bus terminal and railway station to Aulanko. 
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