HISTORY

The Laukko estate, in the parish of Vesilahti in the province of Häme, has a long and eventful history. According to a legend it´s first owner, in the 13th century, was a powerful chieftain Matti Kurki. In 1416 Laukko is mentioned for the first time in historical documents. The Kurck family acquired the estate of Laukko in the middle of the 15th century. Among the most famous owners at Laukko Manor in the Late Middle Ages were the tragic hero of the "Elinan surma"-ballad Klaus Kurki and the last Catholic bishop of Finland Arvid Kurki.

Laukko was in the possession of the Kurck family of noble birth 400 years. During this time Laukko grew to one of the biggiest and most notable estates in Finland. As early as the Early Modern Ages the life at Laukko was prosperious and international. The Kurck family built the grand manor house in the beginning of the 16th century, where they lived in luxury and comfortableness.

After the time of prosperity the estate of Laukko became dilapidated in the firts half of the 18th century. Even if the economical well-being returned to the estate Claes Kurck sold the old country house in 1817. After that the estate of Laukko had been in the possession of the Törngren, Hallonblad, Standertsköld and Haarla family. The present late Neoclassical manor house was built in the 1930s, by Raphael Haarla. Since 1968 the owner of the Laukko estate has been Juhani Lagerstam. Today Laukko is not only known for the rich history but also for the internationally high level breeding of the trotting horses - Laukko horses.