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.
Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.