Svarta Manor

Svarta Manor (Mustion Linna) is a beautiful 18th century ironworks estate that has hosted artists and royalty.

Svarta Manor history

Whilst Svarta has been involved in the production of iron since 1560, the first industrial ironworks foundry was built there in 1616 and was initially owned by the king of Sweden himself.

In 1644, Svarta passed into private ownership and, in the 18th century, became the property of the family who would own it for over 200 years, albeit with a 45 year break from 1940, the Linders. The actual manor of Svarta Manor was built by Magnus Linder II from 1783 to 1792 and is Finland’s biggest non-ecclesiastic wooden building.

The architecture is a mix of the two consecutive styles rococo and neo-classicism and the Gustavian style dominates the interior. Special features in the main building are the parquet floors, one made in four kinds of wood and on the second floor is a unique bedroom where one king (Gustav III) and two emperors (Alexander I and Alexander II of Russia) have slept.

In its time, Svarta Manor has played host to many an important figure including King Gustav III, Russian Emperors Alexander I and II, Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and Swedish painter Louis Sparre.

Svarta Manor today

Today the manor serves as a museum and hotel. The surrounding castle park with sculptures, plantations and a lake is also a wonderful resting place for visitors.

The manor house is a museum, and the interior is restored to its original state with its different tiled stoves, Gustavian furniture and of course the original parquet floors. Those who want to learn more about the history of Svarta Manor can visit its museum either independently or by pre-arranged tour.

Getting to Svarta Manor

The Manor is situated about 80km west of Helsinki along the Finnish coast, in western Uusimaa in the County of Raseborg in a small village named Svartå in Swedish or Mustio in Finnish