Panssarimuseo

About the museum

The Panssarimuseo is located in Parola in Hattula, near Hämeenlinna. The museum’s basic exhibition presents the cultural heritage of Finnish armoured and anti-tank forces over more than a hundred years. The course of history is shown chronologically in the exhibition halls and outdoors.

The history of armoured vehicles begins with a Renault tank from 1917 and extends to the present-day Leopard 2A4 battle tank and the Patria AMV vehicle. The main exhibition hall tells of the period before the Second World War and of the war years 1939–1945; the display cases show personal wartime histories, military uniforms and decorations. Exhibition Hall 2 covers Cold War-era equipment up to the 2000s, as well as the manufacture of Finnish wheeled armoured vehicles.

The anti-tank hall presents the development of Finnish anti-tank defence, from the Molotov cocktails of the Winter War to the rocket launchers and missile weapons of the post-war period, and it contains a laser-based anti-tank gun simulator. The outdoor exhibition area has two vehicle shelters for museum vehicles, a wartime-style anti-tank platoon base with dugouts, and a rare wartime armoured train.

Highlights

• Armoured vehicles from the 1917 Renault to the Leopard 2A4
• Wartime armoured train in the outdoor exhibition area
• Anti-tank hall and laser-based gun simulator
• Wartime anti-tank platoon base with dugouts
• Museum orienteering and escape game for families

Permanent exhibition

• Perusnäyttely – The exhibition presents the equipment and history of Finnish armoured and anti-tank forces over more than a hundred years, in the halls and in the outdoor exhibition area.

Founded

1961

Admission & discounts

Prices may differ from the standard prices on event days. The museum is not a Museokortti venue. Admission is free for war veterans, members of the Panssarikilta (Armoured Corps association), conscripts in service, reservists in refresher training and assistants; media representatives by prior arrangement. Discount cards are shown at the ticket desk.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Museum orienteering suits school-age children from around 10 years old, and the escape game can be played with the family. The café has a baby-changing room. The museum shop has toy models.

Getting there & parking

It is about 110 km from Helsinki and about 70 km from Tampere.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

The Tankkitupa café serves coffee and doughnuts, ice cream and savoury snacks; there are 25 seats inside and 80 on the terrace in summer, and Wi-Fi is available. The museum shop sells souvenirs, toy models and books.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Plan your visit