Main Building
No matter which direction one approaches the Verla World Heritage Site from, the manor-like Patruunan Pytinki (the mill owner's residence) dominates the landscape. This main building of the Verla Groundwood and Board Mill was completed in 1885 as the home of the mill manager Gottlieb Kreidl. Later, in 1898, the building was expanded with a tower-like addition, the ground floor of which housed the mill office and the upper floor contained guest rooms.
This building was designed by architect Eduard Dippell, who also designed the other key buildings in the Verla mill area. Representing the Neo-Renaissance style, the building served as the residence and office of the mill managers until 1964, when operations at Verla came to an end. The last manager continued to live in the manor for some time afterward.
Verla mill owner Gottlieb Kreidl 1882–1908
Director Hjalmar Andersin 1909–1921
Engineer Rafael Breitenstein 1922
Agronomist Buno Breitenstein 1923–1950
Master of Science in Technology Nils Lindblom 1951–1964
In the late 1960s, Kymi Company converted the vacant apartments into a holiday village for its staff. The manor served as the holiday village’s dining hall until the 2000s, and in its final years, visitors to the Verla Mill Museum could also enjoy its restaurant services. The building was closed in 2007 due to its deteriorated technical systems.
After being vacated, the manor gained a new role as a research subject: restoration students from Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences studied and documented its history, construction phases, and surfaces, providing valuable insights into the building’s evolution, styles, and color schemes across different eras. This information was needed for the restoration project carried out between 2023 and 2025, during which the building’s interiors were restored to reflect the spirit of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, the mill owner’s residence is once again part of the Verla experience! The main floor houses an atmospheric restaurant, and the second floor of the tower section offers rentable meeting rooms. The World Heritage Site’s customer service, museum shop, and ticket sales are located in the old mill office.
The manor’s doors are open during the museum’s opening hours. Welcome to explore Verla’s history!