Construction

Russia’s heir apparent, Alexander, and his wife, a Danish princess, had heard about the plentiful salmon catch from the Langinkoski rapids. Alexander’s wife was known in Finland and Scandinavia as Dagmar, and her Russian name was Maria Feodorovna.

In the summer of 1880 the heir apparent and his wife went to Langinkoski, where they watched salmon fishing. The royal guests were enchanted by the beautiful view of the rapids and promised to return.

A few years later they visited Langinkoski again. By then Alexander had already become the Russian czar named Alexander III. The couple said they would like to have a small fishing lodge on the bank of the rapids. The Senate of the Grand Duchy of Finland ordered that a two-story summer home be built for the ruling couple on the bank of the rapids.

A trio of Finnish architects designed the fishing lodge. Magnus Schjerfbeck drew the architectural plan, and the interior was designed by Jac. Ahrenberg. Sebastian Gripenberg approved the completed plan.

Construction began in the summer of 1888. The Czarist couple was so interested in their Finnish summer residence that they came to follow the progress of the work. The ruling couple was accompanied by their youngest children, Grand Duke Michael and Grand Duchess Olga.