Vankilamuseo, Tavastia Proper, Finland
4.0 (59 reviews) Spent Ranking #4 in Hameenlinna Speciality Museums
Old prison with authentic wall writings
The Prison is authentic and exciting place to visit. This is a museum, but it has been an old prison and there is many things left there and that makes it really authentic. It almost seems like the prisoners and the stuff just left. Offices and prison cells have been left intact. There is also clothing and other things to see in the museum. In a guided tour you here exciting stories about the prison history and stories about the prisoners.
Address
Kustaa III katu 8, Hameenlinna 13100 Finland
Mobile
Website
http://www.visithameenlinna.fi/vankilamuseo
Current local date and time now
Sunday, May 12, 2024, 17:26
User Ratings
4.0 based on (59 reviews)
Excellent
37%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Reviews
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5Mikael F 5:00 PM Aug 12, 2019
Very authentic prison museum
This museum introduces the history of correctional treatment in Finland and the prison life in the past. The museum is located in the former premises of the provincial prison next to the Häme Castle. When it was built in 1871, it was the first prison in Finland with cells. The prison was used until 1993. The place is in its original condition. The past lives on in the writings on the walls, the items, and the lived-in cells.
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4Hanna H 5:00 PM Jul 5, 2017
Fascinating and authentic prison finally open
The museum was closed for a long time and now that is was finally re-opened, we ventured a visit with 3 kids (11, 5 and 3). The museum was very interesting for us all: the kids loved exploring the building itself (including the basement and the inmates' sauna) and seeing how the prisoners lived and spent their days. There are a couple of units that have been kept as they were in the 1990s when the last prisoners inhabited them, and the rest of the exhibition concentrates very hands-on to correctional services in general and how the prisoners' everyday life looked like. The exhibition is somewhat small so the visit won't take a whole day. The museum is run by the local Lions Club's volunteers, and the staff was very helpful and friendly. The pricing is also reasonable and you get a discount if you visit the Häme Castle as well. Worth a visit to experience the authentic prison atmosphere.
