One has witnessed the daily routines of a working farm, while another remembers its years as a municipal care home. In one building, bread was baked for the entire estate; in another, livestock was tended to. An old highway ran right alongside them back when Tampere was still much smaller than it is today.
Now, a brand-new chapter is being written at Maisa.
While many buildings are still waiting for their turn, some have already been given a new lease of life. They all share one thing in common: they have been here longer than any of us. Read the architectural history report of Maisansalo here.
The History of Maisansalo – From the Polso Farm to Resortti Maisa
The history of Maisansalo begins long before the arrival of tourists, campsites, or summer restaurants.
The Polso farm appears in official documents as early as the 16th century, making it one of the oldest known inhabited sites in Northern Tampere.
Back then, the lake was the highway. It was used for travel, transporting goods, and keeping in touch with the rest of the world. The very same Lake Näsijärvi still stretches out in front of the buildings today. The landscape remains familiar, even as the centuries have changed.
Maisansalo Manor – Former Municipal Care Home, Current Restaurant
The heart of Maisa can be found at the top of the hill.
Maisansalo Manor has seen over a century of history. Designed by Heikki Tiitola and completed in 1914, it originally served as the main building for the Teisko poorhouse and later operated for many years as a municipal care home. Many locals still remember it warmly in this role. The municipal care home closed its doors in 1976, after which the area was given a new lease on life as a holiday and recreation resort.
In the summer of 2026, Restaurantti Maisa opened inside the manor – a place where people gather under one roof to relax and share life’s grand and small moments without any rush. Here, guests enjoy the stunning views of Lake Näsijärvi, a warm atmosphere, and good food.
Where daily care routines were once managed, the manor now serves cozy cottage breakfasts, salmon soup, fresh coffee, and the setting for long summer conversations.
The scenery remains while the stories change – a wonderful continuation for this historic building.
The Old Polso Main Building – One of Teisko’s Oldest Homes
Known since the 1500s, the Polso estate's main building is one of the oldest surviving residences in Teisko. Its distinctive appearance immediately catches the eye: the master of the house, Juuse Polso, once covered the exterior walls with old wooden shingles salvaged from the demolished Teisko Church. The house was quite progressive for its time, featuring a "telefooni" (telephone line) as early as 1913.
Over the decades, the building has worn many hats. It served as the local government office in 1930, a women’s nursing home ward in the 1950s and 60s (earning the nickname ”Mummola”), and a youth hostel in the 1970s, before being converted into a meeting venue in 1982.
Maisansalo Bakery – The Historic Bakehouse
Standing beside the manor is a slightly more modest building, the Pakari (Bakehouse), from which the aroma of fresh bread once spread across the entire courtyard. It is the second shingle-clad building on the estate and holds its own special place in the history of Maisansalo.
Both everyday bread and festive delicacies were baked here to feed the entire estate. Originally, this wooden building served as the farm's bakehouse and staff quarters. Today, the tradition of the bakehouse lives on inside the manor, where fresh, house-baked breakfast rolls and cinnamon buns fill the display cases.
The Granary – Memories of Traditional Tavastian Farming
Estimated to have been built in 1926 and expanded in the 1960s, this two-story traditional granary (otsa-aitta) stands as a reminder of the era when the Polso estate lived a self-sufficient agricultural life. Granaries were among the farm's most vital structures, as they safely stored the estate’s true wealth: precious grain harvests and meat. This beautiful building beautifully represents traditional Tavastian farming history.
Lakeside and Smoke Saunas – Decades of Gentle Steam
Located on the shore of Polsonlahti bay, the lakeside sauna originally dates back to the 1950s and was fully renovated in 1976. Tucked at the bottom of a steep slope sits a charming old smoke sauna, which has offered travelers a place to unwind since the early days of the campsite operations.
With its swimming docks, the lakeside sauna offers the perfect spot to relax surrounded by nature. Here, the gentle steam and a refreshing dip in Lake Näsijärvi wash away the stresses of daily life – just like they did in the old days!
The Smokehouse
Down by the shore on the Maisa grounds sits the old smokehouse. This building was once essential for smoking, cooking, and preserving meat and fish to meet the needs of the entire estate over the long winter months.
A Courtyard Landmark: The Brick Barn
The very first thing that greets visitors arriving at the resort is the iconic, century-old brick barn. This grand red-brick structure is one of Maisansalo's true landmarks. Built in 1922 to shelter the farm’s livestock, it was the center of everyday farm life for decades. The barn remained operational until 1951, when the municipal care home ceased its farming activities.
Looking ahead, the goal is to bring these magnificent spaces back to life to host events and weddings, creating a vibrant place where people can celebrate and make lasting memories together.
The Brick Granary – Once a Mortuary
Built around 1922 alongside the brick barn, this storage building originally held agricultural goods. However, when the Maisansalo municipal care home began operations, the brick granary was converted into a mortuary, serving this solemn purpose until 1976. Since then, it has been used for general storage.
The Municipal Care Home’s Psychiatric Ward
A separate psychiatric building was added to the courtyard in 1926 as a dedicated ward for residents with mental illnesses. In 1974, the building transitioned into office and canteen use. The project moved forward under the name "Beautiful Maisa's Canteen," stemming from the story behind the entire area's name: back in the 1600s, a worker named "Beautiful Maisa" lived on the lands of the nearby Teiskola Manor.
The Oldest Village Site
One of Maisansalo’s most fascinating locations is slightly hidden away. The current buildings do not actually sit on the exact site of the oldest Polso settlement.
Historical maps indicate that the village site was located near the current cowshed back in the 1700s, and most likely much earlier.
Over the years, pottery, glass, fragments of brick, and other traces of former residents have been uncovered from the soil.
The Old Highway
Long before satnavs, motorways, and tram stops, one of the region’s most important transport routes ran right past Maisansalo. The highway between Messukylä and Ruovesi has been known from maps dating back to the 1600s.
Merchants, peasants, travellers, and villagers journeyed along this same route decade after decade. Some of the current forest tracks still follow the alignment of that old highway.
Maisansalo as a Tourist Destination
Following its years as a farm, Maisansalo was given yet another new purpose. During the 20th century, the area grew into a popular holiday and recreation spot. People came here to spend summer days, swim, go boating, and enjoy the lakeside views.
Many residents of Teisko and Tampere hold their own fond memories of Maisansalo. For some, it was their first summer at a campsite. For others, a party on the shore or boating on Lake Näsijärvi.
Maisansalo has been a special place for many for a very long time.
Resortti Maisa Today – A Lakeside Destination in Tampere
In the summer of 2026, a new phase began in Maisansalo.
The Manor House now hosts the estate's new restaurant, Restaurantti Maisa, while the guest marina serves boaters, and visitors can take a dip in the lake from the long jetty.
The lakeside sauna is heated upon request, and the area is gradually hosting more and more events, celebrations, and shared moments.
There is still much more to come.
The Future of Resortti Maisa – A Year-Round Destination in Tampere
Maisa cannot be built to completion in a single summer. New uses are being found for the historic buildings, the courtyard is being restored piece by piece, and new services will emerge as the time becomes right for them.
The brick cowshed is awaiting renovation, followed by the celebrations to come. In future years, the upper floor of the Manor House is also intended to accommodate overnight guests.
The outbuildings could well host a vibrant market atmosphere and carry on the tradition of craftsmanship: featuring pop-ups, local businesses, and community activities.
Let’s see together what else Maisa will grow into.
Welcome to discover Resortti Maisa and historic Maisansalo on the shores of Lake Näsijärvi – one of Tampere's most unique lakeside destinations.
See also:
Restaurantti Maisa
Catering Services and Group Bookings
Lakeside Sauna
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get to Resortti Maisa
