The earliest records of Albu manor date back to 1282, making it the oldest order manor in Järva County and one of the oldest in the whole of Estonia. The renovations carried out between 1995 and 2000 uncovered some beautiful paintings and sections of building from the 14th century.
The current manor was constructed between 1742 and 1748 when Count Gustav Otto Douglas resigned his post as governor of Estonia and retired in Albu. A school has operated out of the manor since 1921. It presently houses Albu Basic School. For the last seven summers the manor has put on exhibitions of a number of different artists. It is open to all visitors in summer from Wednesday-Sunday 12.00 pm-6.00 pm. In the autumn and spring period it is advised to make a booking to visit the manor.
Reference: Manor.ee
The Castle of Gruyères is one of the most famous in Switzerland. It was built between 1270 and 1282, following the typical square plan of the fortifications in Savoy. It was the property of the Counts of Gruyères until the bankruptcy of the Count Michel in 1554. His creditors the cantons of Fribourg and Bern shared his earldom. From 1555 to 1798 the castle became residence to the bailiffs and then to the prefects sent by Fribourg.
In 1849 the castle was sold to the Bovy and Balland families, who used the castle as their summer residency and restored it. The castle was then bought back by the canton of Fribourg in 1938, made into a museum and opened to the public. Since 1993, a foundation ensures the conservation as well as the highlighting of the building and the art collection.
The castle is the home of three capes of the Order of the Golden Fleece. They were part of the war booty captured by the Swiss Confederates (which included troops from Gruyères) at the Battle of Morat against Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy in 1476. As Charles the Bold was celebrating the anniversary of his father's death, one of the capes is a black velvet sacerdotal vestment with Philip the Good's emblem sewn into it.
A collection of landscapes by 19th century artists Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Barthélemy Menn and others are on display in the castle.