Hartola (Finland)

Hartola (Swedish Gustav Adolf ) is a town in southern Finland. It is located about 80 km northeast of the city of Lahti in the midst of the Finnish lake district.

History

Hartola was first mentioned in 1398 and belonged to the local independence in 1784 to the parish Sysmä. The newly created municipality was by a royal decree Gustav III. named after the Swedish Crown Prince Gustav Adolf. The namesake is said to have visited the church after his accession to the throne in the early 19th century. Since 1987 Hartola called officially, albeit jokingly, "Royal community " (Finnish kuningaskunta ). From the wealth of the aristocratic landowners - particularly the Tanderfelt family - still bear witness to several magnificent estates, especially the converted into a museum property Koskipää.

The main industry today is the wood-processing industry, which mainly manufactures building components, major employers continue to be the community itself as well as the trade.

Coat of arms

Description of coat of arms: "In the red shield two crosswise Asked golden torches with silver flame over which a rank crown with trefoil prongs in gold floats".

Attractions

The granite church was built in 1911-1913 by Josef Hartola Stenbäck in the style of the Finnish National Romanticism; the construction clearly shows the influence of Art Nouveau, but dominated by the Neo-Gothic forms. The painted stained glass windows were designed by the German artist Heinrich Schiffer.