Jyväskylä is a city located in central Finland, 147 km from Tampere and 270 km from Helsinki, near the lakes Päijänne and Keitele. It is the center of the Region of Jyväskylä. Due to having been the site of many education-related "firsts" in Finland, it is known as a city of schools and the Athens of Finland, and is also famous for its many buildings designed by Alvar Aalto and for hosting Neste Rally Finland, which is part of the World Rally Championship. It is home of the annual Jyväskylä Arts Festival.