Verla

Verla [ vɛrlɑ ] is a village in the south of Finland. It is located about 30 km north of Kouvola and 160 km north-east of Helsinki in the landscape Kymi. Since 2009, Verla administratively belongs to the city of Kouvola, previously it was part of the community Jaalah.

The Board Mill Verla

The factory village is in its original condition from the time of the turn of the century 19-20. Receive century. The core is the paper mill, was prepared in the wood pulp cardboard.

At the place of the factory system since 1872 is already a groundwood mill, which exploited the natural energy of Verla rapids between lakes Suolajärvi and iso- Kamp Onen. This factory burned down in 1876.

Built in 1882, the Austrian engineer and paper manufacturer Gottlieb Kreidl ( 1850-1908 ) a new factory at the same place. It was developed by German architect Carl Eduard Dippell (1855-1912) designed and built from Viipuri. The also designed by Dippell representative residence Georg Kreidls still stands adjacent to the factory.

Kreidl was also active for his workers. So they got back in the 80s of the 19th century medical treatment and medicines at the expense of the company. In 1892 a sick and funeral fund was established a year later a pension fund. In the early 20th century, the factory had already set up a nurse.

The factory Lord was also interested in the education of the villagers, 1890, he founded a free primary school for the children of Verla.

The factory was shut down on July 18, 1964, when the last worker went into retirement. On this last day a documentary film, which is now shown in the museum.

In 1995, a modern hydroelectric power plant was put into operation next to the old factory building, whose architecture is strongly inspired to the factory.

In 1996 the entire factory system was included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.

Prehistoric petroglyphs

North of the factory, on a steep rock in Suolajärvi, just above the water surface, are the prehistoric rock carvings, which are considered the oldest evidence of Finnish art; their age is estimated to be about 6000 years.