The bakehouse is part of the lot of sea captain Aron Ludvigs Bergström. In the 19th century, the city of Kristinestad experienced the golden age of shipping. Sailing ships were built in the town and ships sailed from the harbour to the world’s oceans. The main building was built by sea captain Aron Ludvig Bergström in 1835 and the bakehouse was completed by the captain’s widow Antoinette Bergström in 1865.
Our captain used to sail around the world on a ship from Kristinestad. After Bergström, the house was inhabited by another sea captain, Captain Lacke (more interesting stories can be found in the Maritime Museum located by the market square). The bakehouse was originally built as an economy building, where food was prepared for sea voyages and where sailors and other travellers were accommodated. Over the years, the house has also been used as dorm for girls, a rental apartment and as an antique shop. Now the house has returned to its original purpose: to serve travellers and visitors.
The current owners, Milla and Petri Monola, bought the property in 2001 and have gradually restored the buildings. The renovation of the bakehouse was completed in 2008. Recycling and ecology have been the main themes behind the renovation, spare parts from old houses had been collected over the years: windows, floorboards, a dismantled tiled stove from a neighbouring house… You could say that all the building materials in the house are recycled. During the renovation, treasures and evidence from sailing expeditions were found in the walls of the house: old maps had been used as winding paper. The maps showed the Mediterranean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the Mississippi Delta and the Pacific Ocean.
Text: Milla Monola, translation Dag Björklud
