Details
Founded: 1794Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Finland
Historical period: The Age of Enlightenment (Finland)
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Jokioinen manor was established in 1562 when Erik XIV, the king of Sweden, donated the area as fiefdom to Klas Kristersson Horn. The heyday of Jokioinen manor was in the 18th century at the time of R.H. Jägerholm (he bought the manor in 1752), when the manor owned 32000 hectares land around the Jokioinen. After him several famous families have owned Jokioinen including Flemings, Jägerhorn af Spurilas, Reuterholms, von Willebrands sekä Mannerheims.
The present manor house was built in 1794. With 30 rooms it was then second largest building in Finland. The garden is from the 17th century. Today it is owned by the MTT Agrifood Research Finland. The manor outdoor areas are open to the public.
Sirmione castle was built near the end of the 12th century as part of a defensive network surrounding Verona. The castle was maintained and extended first as part of the Veronese protection against their rivals in Milan and later under the control of the Venetian inland empire. The massive fortress is totally surrounded by water and has an inner porch which houses a Roman and Medieval lapidary. From the drawbridge, a staircase leads to the walkways above the walls, providing a marvellous view of the harbour that once sheltered the Scaliger fleet. The doors were fitted with a variety of locking systems, including a drawbridge for horses, carriages and pedestrians, a metal grate and, more recently, double hinged doors. Venice conquered Sirmione in 1405, immediately adopting provisions to render the fortress even more secure, fortifying its outer walls and widening the harbour.
Thanks to its strategical geographical location as a border outpost, Sirmione became a crucial defence and control garrison for the ruling nobles, retaining this function until the 16th century, when its role was taken up by Peschiera del Garda.