Local history of Kangasala

From a stone-age village to a modern town

Sarsa, situated in Kangasala at the Huutijärvi lake, is one of the most important prehistoric dwelling sites in Finland. Stone-age dwelling was born soon after the ridges made by the ice age were formed. There has been continuous dwelling in Sarsa for the more than 8,500 years that have led from the stone-age up to today. With time, a peculiar culture developed at Sarsa. Stone-aged textile ceramics findings, the so-called Sarsa ceramics, are proof of this.

Sarsa was the milling centre of the Satakunta region

In 16th century, the Sarsankoski rapids had become a large milling centre. Two royal estates were situated nearby, and altogether 12 mills had been erected at the rapids: five small horizontal water wheel mills and seven large vertical water wheel mills.

In 1604, the rapids ran dry. The mills stopped, and the millers were forced to find a new means of livelihood.

Dwelling in Kangasala

At the beginning of the Common Era, dwelling gradually moved toward the so-called heart area of Kangasala, to the isthmus between the Längelmävesi, Roine, and Vesijärvi lakes.

At Kangasala, dwelling naturally developed to the junction of various traffic routes, which have also affected the growth of Kangasala later on. The ridges and waterways are not only beautiful to look at, but they are vital in dividing areas for dwelling and cultivation and connecting people and areas.

Royalty and manors

Kangasala became a popular summer attraction in the 1700’s, thanks to its accessible location. Manors and larger estates accommodated summer visitors, and soon Kangasala was known as the holiday spot of many celebrities. One of the most visible characteristics of the manors was the stately main buildings with the surrounding parks, often memorialized in paintings and photographs. The Kangasalan Lepokoti pension, born from the initiative of the manor owners, attracted artists in particular.

The history of Kangasala was cast a royal glow by Karin Månsdotter (0580–1612), the widow of the Swedish king Gustav I of Sweden’s son Eric XIV of Sweden, and Karin Hansdotter (1539–1596), the royal mistress of King John III of Sweden. Karin Månsdotter lived at the Liuksiala manor and Karin Hansdotter at the Vääksy manor, for the rest of their lives.