The village of Harviala is located near the Hiidenjoki River, in the old cultural landscape of Harviala Manor. Signs of settlement in the area date back to the 1300s.

Like nearly every other village in Janakkala, Harviala has its own manor in its history. Many military leaders, knights, and nobles walked the halls of Harviala Manor as it changed hands among families for nearly 500 years. Later, the manor was sold several times. The current landscape dominated by horticulture can be traced back to 1913 when the shares of Harviala Oy, formed from the estate, were sold to W. Rosenlew & Co. At that time, the total area of the estate was a staggering 13,500 hectares. In the 1920s, Harviala invested in cattle breeding. The massive brick barn, Alikartano, which is now used by the nursery, still reflects the large number of cattle. Harviala Oy has given up agriculture, forestry, and livestock farming and focused on wholesale ornamental plants, especially domestic deciduous and coniferous trees.

The manor itself, as well as the so-called office and packing facility, was sold in 2020 to a new owner who is renovating the manor into a home and initiating other activities in the area.

The outbuildings have also seen the emergence of craft-based business activities. In the charming manor milieu, world-famous Ruokankaa electric guitars are manufactured, among other things.

Harviala also housed one of the three railway stations in Janakkala. A unique feature of the locality was the forestry railway completed in 1917, which was preceded by a horse railway. The forestry railway was primarily used for transporting timber from extensive forests, first to be floated down the river and later to be loaded onto trains at the railroad. Traffic on the forestry railway ended in 1955, and it was dismantled under a road following the same route.

Harviala today

The municipality of Janakkala acquired the Harviala area in 1989 for community construction purposes. The field area located south of the railway and bordering the Hiidenjoki River has been zoned for residential use, primarily for single-family housing. Approximately 100 single-family homes have been built in the area. Harviala Manor and its cultural landscape are significant due to their buildings, industry, and overall landscape. The manor’s barn and the Katajamäki workers’ housing area are part of the general plan area. The Harviala area is bordered by the railway to the north. The Hiidenjoki and Pikkujoki rivers form a natural boundary to the south and west of the area.

The residential area is located in a beautiful spot by the Hiidenjoki River, in its own tranquility, yet only a ten-minute drive from services. The distance to Turenki is about 6 km. The area also has good connections to Hämeenlinna.

A school and daycare serve families with children. Extensive green areas make the residential area a pleasant place to live, complemented by the recreational opportunities provided by the river. The Hiidenjoki is part of a marked boating route that leads all the way to Tampere.

The new residential area has its own playground and sports field with football goals. By the river, there is a hut (in Ämmännokka), a small sandy swimming beach, and designated berthing spots for boats rented by the municipality of Janakkala.

Explore available plots for sale.

The boat launching site and mooring places for boats at Alikartano in Harviala are rented by the Harviala Sailing Club. Inquiries about boat spots can be sent to harvialan.venekerho@gmail.com.

Other interesting information

The Harviala manor area is surrounded by a garden and park, where several rare hardwood trees continue to grow. Among the rarest trees is the magnificent American walnut at the corner of the yellow office building, the shrubby bird cherry, and a very unusual dwarf fir. Whether it is a consequence of climate change or not, many seedlings of, for instance, large-leaved linden and Japanese spruce can currently be seen on the edges of the park area. The locations of the hardwoods can be found on a guide map located in the manor’s yard, where they are marked with name signs.