A walking tour in manor parks

Liubavas Manor and Liubavas Watermill Museum

Liubavas Manor is one of the oldest manors in Lithuania. It was first mentioned in the Treasury Book of Sigismund II Augustus, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland. The source testifies to the repairs to the fishery ponds on the manor territory at the time. The manor was once so advanced economically that it supplied its local produce to the Royal Manor in Vilnius.

The manor enjoyed an especially rich abundance of natural resources. It owned many lakes and ponds in the Molėtai District that were stocked with fish as well as several hundred hectares of the Lavoriškės-Nemenčinė forest. The latter is known as the sixth biggest forest in Lithuania. It has a large stock of timber and plentiful wildlife. The forest was a hunting place for moose and roe. The forest is full of berries and mushrooms (especially boletus). Interestingly, the manor’s staff enjoyed free access to pick berries and mushrooms while outsiders had to obtain a special permit issued by the Liubavas forester.

Back in the day, the manor used to be one of the centres of the neighbouring lands (local municipalities). Up until the middle of the 20thcentury, before it was nationalised by the Soviet government, the Manor belonged to various prominent people who left an important mark in Lithuania’s history. The manor was famous for its talented and caring owners including such renowned Lithuanian artists and cultural figures as Mikolaj Tyszkiewicz, who was a famous Vilnius Cathedral canon and funded a private orchestra in the manor!

Currently, the Liubavas Manor Museum invites guests to learn more about its history, aspects of its former manufacturing operations and the special technologies used there. It offers a unique chance to have a closer look at its watermill, which was an important development that revolutionised many aspects of day-to-day life. For centuries it was used to produce bread flour. Over ten different production methods are on display at the museum, and they include wood and metal processing, wool making and even electricity generation.

Undoubtedly, Liubavas Manor is a unique example of architectural, landscape and technical heritage. It is the only manor in Lithuania where its technological equipment has been completely restored. Even the museum’s century-old hydro turbine works perfectly well. In 2012, the prestigious Europa Nostra award marked Liubavas Manor’s significance. This independent organisation recognised the Museum for the outstanding quality of its restoration work and acknowledged it as one of the best examples of conservation of cultural heritage.

Liubavas Manor is easy to reach as it is located in close proximity to the Park of Europe. On the Vilnius road, you follow the road to Molėtai, take a right turn at the 21-km mark to Nemenčinė, and then follow the road signs closely. The Museum is open between April and October, and visitors are advised to phone before their visit. During the cold season, group visits can be arranged with advance notice.

Liubavas Manor House

There is a mystery about the origins of the manor’s name. It is believed to have been derived from the Old Prussian words Lubowo, Lubow, Liubow or Lubów,which mean ‘love’ and ‘marriage’ in Lithuanian. It is said that at that time, when the Prussian community was escaping from the conquerors, it moved into the depths of Lithuania and settled in the valley of the Gerėja (today Žalesa) River.

Liubavas Manor House is harmoniously incorporated into the picturesque landscape of the banks of the Žalesa River. The estate is comprised of 20 different buildings and a system of seven ponds. It used to have a functioning brewery and an ice-cream parlour. On Wednesdays, people from the neighbouring villages would come to the watermill to watch films. It is worth noting that the Liubavas Watermill generator produced enough energy for the village even before universal electrification.

The surviving constructions include a stone watermill, an 18th-century servants’ quarters and a conservatory where frost-sensitive plants were kept in colder weather. Seven more buildings have survived until today, while the remaining fragments of walls and foundations serve as evidence of other buildings, too. Visitors are invited to take a closer look at the Watermill Museum as well as the officine and the conservatory.

At the end of the 15thcentury, Count Albertas Goštautas, an important political figure in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the author of the First Lithuanian Statute, was the owner of Liubavas Manor. The history of the estate owners, which spans almost five centuries, is quite complicated. They changed quite often either through inheritance or marriage. At different stages the manor belonged to the Goštautai, Tyzenhauses, Tyszkiewiczes, Golejievskis, Slizieńs and even the Radziwiłł families. Among the most famous owners of the estate we should mention Barbara Radziwiłł (Barbora Radvilaitė) and the talented 19-th century sculptor and medallist Rafał Slizień.

Watermill Museum

Liubavas Manor Watermill Museum was built on the Žalesa River in the 16thcentury and has been rebuilt several times since. The building was constructed using exceptional quality bricks, and it was successfully restored and brought back to life. In 2011, the Liubavas Manor Museum was established on the watermill premises.

The mill can be compared to a factory that requires knowledge of various fields for its management: nature science, hydrosystem requirements, mechanics, know-how in milling technologies and accountancy.

Liubavas Manor Museum was opened with support from Gintaras Karosas. It is a unique object of technical, historical and cultural heritage that illustrates technological aspects of the mill’s centuries-long operations. In order to facilitate this, the mill’s technical equipment was carefully renovated. Even the smallest authentic details and old materials were successfully preserved. One year after its restoration, the Europa Nostra organisation declared the museum a prime example in the conservation of European cultural heritage.

The museum’s main display highlights romantic details of the manor’s history, its architecture, original oil paintings and authentic objects such as furniture, china, etc.

Address: Liubavas village, Riešė eldership, Vilnius district

Pikeliškės Manor

Pikeliškės Village is located at the crossroads of the old Molėtai highway and the Nemenčinė-Maišiagala-Vievis bypass in Vilnius District. From the main road a leafy alley leads visitors to the local gem – Pikeliškės Manor. Built in the middle of the 18thcentury, this relatively modest one-storey classic-style manor is surrounded by a small park which has many spectacular century-old trees including oaks, birches, linden trees and maples.

Pikeliškės Manor sits on a small hill on the northern shore of Lake Žalesas (Pikeliškės), and it has been recognised as an architectural and landscape monument of local significance. In 1992, it was included in the list of cultural monuments of the Republic of Lithuania.

The manor, located only about 16 kilometres from the capital of Lithuania, is famous for the fact that between 1930 and 1934 its owner was the Polish Marshal Jozef Pilsudski. The manor became the Pilsudskis’ summer residence hosting multiple meetings between Polish leaders and foreign ministers. Pilsudski also set up a primary school on the estate! Following his death, the estate remained in his family for only for a short period of time. In 1940, it was nationalised, and after World War II, various institutions were established there including a collective farm office and a village dance hall among others.

Today, the Pikeliškės Manor building has been newly renovated and is occupied by the Pikeliškės Library, a branch of the Central Library of Vilnius District Municipality. Every year, the Vilnius Regional Harvest Festival is held at the manor and brings together people from a number of surrounding towns. In addition, the beautiful manor facilities welcome private celebrations as well.

History of the Manor

Written sources suggest that in the first half of the 18thcentury the manor belonged to a member of the Smolensk Diocese, Jonas Meduneckas and later – to St. George Canyons Monastery and the relatives of Jonas Meduneckas. Very thick walls and giant oven hearths indicate that the manor was built in the middle of the 18thcentury. Some data suggest that the manor also belonged at one time to the noble Pisankafamily.

Pikeliškės Manor is quite modest in its design and features subtle and moderate ornaments. The main entrance of the building is decorated with a portico of Tuscan columns. A small set of steps leads visitors from the south porch to the lake shore. The park territory surrounding the manor was likely formed in the 19thcentury during the classicism period.

Interestingly, the owners of Pikeliškės Manor did not participate in the rebellions of 1831 and 1863, thus avoiding the sequestration of the Manor. Sequestration was one of the ways used to nationalise property, when the manor size was measured, an inventory was made of all possessions and certain limitations or bans were imposed (property sequestrated).

In 1930, the manor was purchased by Aleksandra and Jozef Pilsudski. Interestingly, at that time the cavaliers of the Virtuti Military Order were able to exercise their right to receive a small manor. Both Marshal Pilsudski, who was the leader of Poland at the time, and his wife Aleksandra were awarded the order, thus they were allowed to choose a very large estate, which comprised 35 ha of arable land, 25 ha of meadows and 73 ha of the territory of the lake.

The Pilsudski family liked Pikeliškės Manor a lot. It was in a very poor state when they took it over so major renovations were undertaken. The estate, apart from the main manor and the park around it, also included stables. Today’s visitors can see only the remains of this building, but they still canadmire the horses in a special enclosure nearby.

Jozef Pilsudski

Jozef Pilsudski was born on 5 December 1867, in the manor named Zalavas in Švenčionys district. He was the fourth of twelve children. The Pilsudskis, as was characteristic of other old Polish and Lithuanian noble families, raised their children to embrace the history of the past and foster patriotism.

According to historians, the story of the noble Pilsudski family in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was quite typical of the time: they were completely Polonised, did not speak Lithuanian and hoped for aunion of Lithuania with Poland. However, they cannot be considered truly Polish and should be identified as gente lituanus natione polonus(Poles of Lithuanian descent).

Having graduated from a gymnasium in Vilnius, Jozef Pilsudski went to study medicine at Kharkov University. There he became interested in the revolutionary ideas of ‘Narodnaya Volya’ (Eng. People’s Will) and got involved in socialist activities. Consequently, he was expelled from the university and spent five years in exile in Siberia.

Marshal Pilsudski had a controversial personality. His words and work in the political arena were just as controversial. It is said that his active pursuit of the unification of Lithuania and Poland only damaged the relations between the two countries. In 1920, Pilsudski staged a rebellion of the Vilnius region, during which nearly a third of Lithuania’s territory, including Vilnius, was occupied and annexed by Poland.

The same year he became the First Marshal of Poland. Pilsudski had a number of ambitious yet unfulfilled plans, one of which was to bring together a strong Central and Eastern European military alliance named Intermarium.According to Pilsudski, a union of nine states of the timecould have resisted their two unpredictable neighbours – the Soviet Union and Germany.

In 1935, Pilsudski was buried alongside the kings of Poland and Lithuania and other prominent figures inWawel Castle inKrakow. At his personal request, his heart was buried in RasosCemetery in Vilnius, the city of his youth.

Address: Pikeliškės village, Riešė eldership, Vilnius district

Centre of Traditional Crafts at the Houvalt Manor in Maišiagala

The Centre of Traditional Crafts is situated in a former Manor in the town of Maišiagala, located about 25 km north-west of Vilnius, in the direction of Panevėžys. The centre serves as the main attraction of Maišiagala, bringing together local communities as well as anyone searching for unique experiences. The Houvalt Manor, a classic-style estate located at the foot of the Maišiagala Hill Fort, is recognised as a cultural monument of local significance.

The Centre of Traditional Crafts aims to preserve the traditions, customs and old practices of Vilnius Region. The goal is to ensure that crafts are kept alive by constantly reviving them, making presentations to the visitors to the centre and holding special lessons. Educational activities are aimed at both children and adults. Those who want to get to know the folk art and local culture more closely, can attend special meetings with craftsmen and cultural activists as well as exhibitions and craft fairs selling traditional handicrafts and delicacies.

Houvalt Manor houses not only the Centre of Traditional Crafts, but also Maišiagala Cultural Centre, City Library, Community House, a local concert hall and a souvenir shop for visitors. Additionally, a modern conference room is available for rent.

Ancient Crafts

The Centre of Traditional Crafts offers its premises to local traditional craftsmen enabling them to create, showcase and sell their creations as well as provide open lessons of their craft. The centre has a developed technical craft base and specifically equipped workshop facilities. Hopefully, it will help unite local craftsmen and establish collaborations with various craftsmen abroad. The centre provides assistance in obtaining a craftsman’s certificate.

In the Centre of Traditional Crafts, folk artists and local folklore scholars offer visitors various educational activities. More than ten different crafts professionals help children and adults get to know various useful crafts and discover their intricacies. A team of experts consisting of a woodcarver, a paper cutting expert, a soap maker and a carpenter willingly share their knowledge in the field of their crafts. You are also invited to learn about candle making, straw weaving, wool felting and ceramic craftsmanship. Everyone is welcome to learn the art of Lithuanian palm weaving, practised exclusively in the Vilnius Region, or learn more about traditional holiday dishes or regional customs.

Maišiagala Community

Maišiagala was first mentioned in written sources in 1254. From the 14th century, this territory belonged to the rulers of Lithuania, and a few centuries later its ownership was passed to the Lithuanian nobility.

Today, the Maišiagala community consists of about 1,800 people, and it actively fosters ancient traditions and regional culture. In order to preserve and pass on the historical-cultural heritage of the land to future generations, joint efforts of the Maišiagala community and the Vilnius District Municipality have received support from the European Union Structural Funds. This enabled them to restore the Houvalt Manor and adapt it for public needs.

The refurbishment of Houvalt Manor was completed in 2016, and today it is the cultural centrepiece of Maišiagala. The place is full of various activities and entertainment. Locals can enjoy different events and celebrations. Maišiagala art groups now have a new space for rehearsals and concerts, which is available all year long. During national holiday celebrations, vocal and traditional Lithuanian dance groups foster local folklore heritage. Every summer the annual celebration of the Day of Maišiagala is held and this has become a unique tradition.

Maišiagala community implements many interesting projects. One of them is the establishment of Maišiagala’s Housewives Club. Local housewives have documented their culinary experience and secrets by publishing a paper and ebook version of their cookbook.

History of Houvalt Manor

Historical sources indicate that people settled in the surroundings of Maišiagala at the times of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas, about a hundred years prior to the first settlements in the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius. It was there that Algirdas died in 1377. For a long time the territory belonged to the rulers of Lithuania. Later the territory was in the ownership of the noble Sapiega family, and later the Tyzenhauz family became the landowners. The Noble Houvalt family owned the estate from the end of the 18th century until the start of World War II.

In about 1806, Count Onufry Houvalt initiated the construction of a classical-style manor. It was designed by Mychal Angel Shulz, a famous architect of the time and professor at Vilnius University. Unfortunately, following his death, his idea was only partially implemented. The construction of the manor was completed by Onufry’s grandson, Vitold Houvalt, at the end of the 19th century.

Following World War II, Houvalt Manor was used for many purposes. During the war, locals found shelter there, and later, when the political system was changed, Houvalt Manor hired hands had to become collective farmers and resided at the Manor. It then became a collective farm office and following the restoration of Lithuania’s independence it served as a secondary school named after Grand Duke Algirdas.

When the school was relocated, Houvalt Manor took on a socio-cultural role. Part of the premises were given to the city library, and this is the place for local amateur music companies and local community meetings. Today, Houvalt Manor (more than 200-years old) proudly cultivates cultural, artistic and national heritage.

Address: Algirdo str. 4, Maišiagala town, Maišiagala eldership, Vilnius district