The Rilax estate is an old family farm from 1645, where organic farming is currently practiced. The main production direction is the production of carbon-neutral Hereford organic beef, and the forests are managed sustainably, taking into account biodiversity. The manor’s lands have several nature reserves.
The fields produce organic feed for animals and organic grain for sale. Meat production is aimed at selling high-quality organic meat directly to customers. In the summer, the farm’s livestock graze freely, maintaining the traditional natural landscape of cultural and historical importance of the archipelago.
The main building of the manor was designed by the fortress officer Pehr Granstedt and was built in 1804-06. In the 1850s, the house was expanded with a wing designed by architect G. H. Chiewitz. The main building still functions as a private residence.
The manor has an extensive old building stock and the oldest buildings date back to the 18th century. The most notable of the outbuildings are the old (1893) and the new barn building (2014). In addition to these, families live on the farm both year-round and in the summer in the old houses and cottages on the farm. Other buildings include the unique belfry and mill designed by C. J. von Heideken in 1811. The farm’s old stable now serves as a meeting and dining room.
The wilderness landscapes and kilometers of uninhabited coastline and deserted islands that open up from the farm are excellent for hiking, cross-country riding and exciting adventures. The large and varied water areas also offer opportunities for fishing.
An English-style park with noble deciduous trees was once established in connection with the main building. The park is still partially preserved and the deciduous trees have since been supplemented with beech plantations. Today, beech trees reproduce naturally in the park, the only place in mainland Finland where they do so. In the Rilax area, we also organize tours of the farm for groups, meetings, recreation and wilderness hikes.
The name Rilax is first mentioned in history books in the 15th century, but it was not until 1645 that Rilax Manor was established as a railway estate. For a few generations, the manor was inhabited by a family named Körning, but since 1725 it has been inherited by the Aminoff family. Over the centuries, the main occupation has been agriculture and forestry, but fishing and sailing ship cargo have occasionally played a role.
The most notable owner of the manor in the early 19th century was Count Johan Fredrik Aminoff, also known as one of the Three Gustavians. He had the current main building built and also established an English park. After his death, Rilax became a statutory estate, which meant that the manor was inherited undividedly to the next generation.
Over the years, the manor has been visited by both Russian tsars and Marshal C. G. Mannerheim.
The naval battle
Suuren Pohjan sodan aikana käytiin Riilahden edustalla 27 heinäkuuta 1714 meritaistelu Ruotsin ja Venäjän laivastojen välillä. Pieni ruotsalainen laiva-osasto Nils Ehrenskiöld komentamana joutui saarretuksi runsaslukuisen venäläisen kaläärilaivaston toimesta Hankoniemen pohjoispuolella. Suuresta venäläisestä ylivoimasta huolimatta ruotsalaiset kieltäytyivät antautumusta ja niin käytiin useita tunteja kestänyt verinen taistelu. Lopulta ruotsalaiset laivat tulivat vallatuksi ja elossa olevat joutuivat vangeiksi. Kaikki laivat miehistöineen vietiin Pietariin sotasaaliina.
Tästä meritaistelusta tuli Venäjän laivaston ensimmäinen saavutettu voitto ja näin ollen 27 heinäkuuta on edelleen laivaston vuosipäivä.
Riilahden rannalle pystytettiin 1870 meritaistelun muistomerkki kunnioittamaan taistelussa kaatuneita. Viime vuosisadan alussa muistomerkkiä laajennettiin ja nykyään rannassa komeilee rannikkomme komeimpia sotamuistomerkkejä.
