 From Viking to modern Finnish living. The Laukko Manor built in the 1930s - A Neo-classic summer palace built on top of 500 years of fascinating history.
History and Milieu is in Vesilahti
This historical attraction for groups, is for enthusiasts of art, history, archeology, Finnish manor culture, and champion studs. The Laukko Manor is near the famous large-scale breeding grounds of the Laukko trotting horses which Juhani Lagerstam visioned into being.
The current owner knows the history of the Laukko manor and the people who lived there
A person who lives with the history of the Laukko estate
 Juhani Lagerstam's daughter Liisa, grew up and lives at the Laukko manor. Today, Liisa shares the same understanding of what Laukko really means, just as her father knew. What makes Laukko the most famous of Finnish historic attractions is the people who played a role at making Laukko history. As a little girl, walking around the portrait gallery at Laukko, Liisa once pondered: "What Human Fate Is Concealed Behind Those Paintings?"
Liisa acquired a doctorate in cultural history. She makes the historical characters of the past like the Kurck's come alive. She is fascinated by trying to understand how people before her lived and thought...  on the shores of this same lake. -Lake view across the Laukko Manor
Once you visit the Laukko summer gardens you feel a slight relief from the everyday mondane. There is a freshness of being surrounded by large trees lakes.
No wonder why the famous Finnish writers like Elias Lönnrot spent his time at Laukko.
History of Laukko - Just to wet your appetite
The Vikings and Laukko
Giant prehistoric burial mounds are at Laukko up to the late 19th century. The local  chieftain, Matti Kurck, the first owner of Laukko and the first Finnish hero mentioned by Zacharias Topelius in his “Boken om vårt land” (Book about Finland).
Matti Kurki and Russian chieftain Pohto duelled to their fates at a nearby island. Matti won, and Pohto lost, later named Island of Pohto Pohdonsaari.
Easily accessable water routes attract settlers to Laukko region as early as the Iron Age. Laukko is inhabited during the Viking-age.
Enter the Era of Noblemen...
Mid-15th century, the nobleman, Jeppe Kurck settles in the village of Laukko.
The famous medieval lord of the Laukko manor, Klaus Kurki, also stars in the ballad called "The Death of Elina"
- 17th century, Gabriel Kurck, leads a European Baroque lifestyle at Laukko. Chefs and butlers are at his service. Liisa Lagerstam's doctoral dissertation in cultural history examines life at Laukko at this particular time. “A Noble Life. The Cultural Biography of Gabriel Kurck (1630-1712)” -A prize winner.
- 1817, Claes Kurck sells the family estate to Johan Agapetus Törngren
- 1809-1917 (Russian empire), the Törngren's Laukko meeting place is with the nation's economic and cultural elite. During the 1820s Agapetus and Eva Törngren hire Elias Lönnrot to tutor their son.
Lönnrot spends 8 years of a total of 25 years at Laukko. He collects and creates the archaic style poetry found in the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.
- 1850s, Adolf Törngren, an industrialist benefits the Finnish economy by finding Tako Oy and Tampella Oy in Tampere. Tampella in its beginning stages, employes more personell than all of the industrial segment of Helsinki.
Törngren is influential in starting Oy Nokia Ab. No wonder, since the founder of Nokia Oy Fredrik Idestam was Adolf Törngrens wives brother.
Late 1850s Törngren’s engineers a paddle steamer called Laukko. A route from Laukko estate to Tampere is used for trading. Today in Tampere, the Laukontori Market Place, is named after that route.
Dark times at Laukko. During the Civil War of 1918, the Reds level the Laukko residence burning half of the western part of Vesilahti. The result: Almost 300 casualties, along with 29 civilians deaths.
- 1929, Rafael Haarla (1876-1937) buys the estate. Haarla is known for the various paper mills he founded in Finland, and his contibution to the history and art of Finland. The statues along the sides of the Hämeensilta Bridge in Tampere are examples of works he donated.
- 1980s Juhani Lagerstam (1940-2006) makes his dreams come true. He modernizes the dairy farming and builds up a stud farm of international standard for breeding champion trotting horses. Internationally and locally famous. Erkki Lagerstam owns the Laukko stud farm.
Presently...at the Laukko historical attraction...
Liisa Lagerstam and her mother bring on the age of the Laukko Historicum. The Family tradition interests are in History, Antiques and Art...Not forgetting to mention the ancient recipies...
Every guest on the tour takes part in the coffee time where coffee and tea are served with historical delicacies. You get to taste various cookies, pies and other sweet things typical of the old time manor culinary style. - Comment from a Laukko Historicum guest.
|
