The lakes
Wooded islands.
kooikkari — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kanta-Hämeen kuvapankki — CC0 · kooikkari — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Jukka Aminoff — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kanta-Hämeen kuvapankki — CC0
Aulanko is a district of Hämeenlinna in southern Finland famous for its park forest, about 64 km southeast of Tampere and 99 km north of Helsinki in a straight line. It includes a nature reserve and varied areas for outdoor activities. Colonel Hugo Standertskjöld shaped the park into its present form around the turn of the 20th century, and the Aulanko park forest became part of Hämeenlinna's National Urban Park, founded in 2001. The top of Aulanko hill was one of the first points of Finnish land to emerge after the ice age, and traces of ancient lake shores remain on it. Its hillfort became one of the icons of the Finnish national landscape. Dense pine and spruce woods cover hills overlooking clear blue lakes dotted with small wooded islands. Romantic structures are scattered among the trees: a stone observation tower, a folly castle with crenellated walls, an ornate wooden pavilion and old fountains. Visitors walk the paths between forest and lakes, climb the observation tower for views over the lakes and visit the folly castle and pavilions. The area also has a hotel, spa and two golf courses, and autumn is the best time for colour.
Wooded islands.
Crenellated walls.
The view.
Aulanko, Hämeenlinna, Finland
Autumn.
Yes, from Tampere or Helsinki.