Naantali´s Kultaranta

For over a century, the Kultaranta granite manor has stood on the opposite side of the Naantalinaukko fjard to the Naantali Church. For just as long, Kultaranta has in many ways played a significant role to the people of Naantali.

As the president’s summer residence, Kultaranta turned a small seaside town into the nation’s second city. In the summer, residents are used to lines of black cars snaking their way to Luonnonmaa and to the hum of helicopters flying over the city. Many Naantali residents have met presidents while out and about in the city, while others have even met them at Kultaranta.

We began to examine the relationship between the residents of Naantali and Kultaranta when we started to make this exhibition. We have already gathered recollections and stories from people who were involved in some way with either the residence or the presidents that spent summers there. A large share of the texts are based on these recollections.