The history of Herttoniemi Manor dates back to the 16th century. The Herttoniemi area is probably named after Laurens Hertoghe who might have been the first owner of the manor. The heyday was in the late 1700’s, when the manor was owned by Augustin Ehrensvärd. He led the construction of Suomenlinna fortress.
The present main building originates from the beginning of 19th century, when the manor was owned by admiral Carl Olof Cronstedt. The old porcelain factory was changed as the new main building and the park was established around it.
Today Herttoniemi park is an artistically unique milieu. The combination of baroque and English garden is one of the greatest in Finland. The main building functions as a manor museum and the park is open to the public. There is also an old old farm brought from Sipoo which is an outdoor museum.
The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.