Vārkava Manor

Vārkava Manor is a manor in Vecvārkava, Upmala Parish, Vārkava Municipality in the historical region of Latgale, in Latvia. The main building of Vārkava Manor is on the list of State protected real estate monuments. [1]

Vārkava Manor
Latgale, Latvia
Vārkava Manor
Coordinates56°11′47.1″N 26°30′51.3″E
TypeManor

History

Vārkava estate was mentioned in 1583, as belonging to Rezekne. In 16th century in this locality formed manor house (Latvian: foļvarka) – a place, where traders were obligated to buy various items for Polish king and deliver them via local waterways - Dubna river and Daugava river - to Riga. It is not known when brick manor house was built. It is known however that old manor house burned down, and afterwords in the second half of 19th century, the new brick building was built which stands today.

In 1912 millionaire Dorimedonts Aļeiņikovs (1866-1918)[2] made substantial investments into Vārkava estate and installed electricity, running water, built mills, installed the most modern farm machinery and so on. He also had plans to build railway connecting Nīcgale and Aglona stations, these plans were never realized due to outbreak of the World War I. In 1918 manor was looted and destroyed by Bolsheviks revolutionaries. Dorimedonts Aļeiņikovs was shaken by these, got ill and soon died. In 1920 in course of Latvian agrarian reform manor was nationalizes and in 1922 Vārkava's Primary school moved into manor house. Primary school eventually became high school and was occupying manor house until 1979. Than building was converted into apartments and still used as storage facility for school.

In 2000-2004 Vārkava manor house underwent extensive restoration and in 2004 it was opened for the public use. Here Vārkava municipality administration, Upmala library, Vārkava municipality Culture center and family doctor practice are located. The main building of Vārkava Manor is on the list of State protected real estate monuments. Manor park around is also protected as a natural monument. [3][4]

See also

References
  1. Zarāns, Alberts (2006). Latvijas pilis un muižas. Castles and manors of Latvia (in Latvian and English). Riga. ISBN 9984-785-05-X. OCLC 72358861.
  2. Rancāns, A. “Atgriešanās tēva mājās.” Lauku Avīze. 1991. Nr. 11/12.
    Krillova, L. “Arī latgaliešiem savs muižnieks miljonārs - Dorimedonts Aļeiņikovs.” Novadnieks. 2013. 14. maijs.
    Born in the family of 4 children of Yakov Alekhnikov and Epistilija Kozlov in Svariņi, Vaivodu Parish, Rezekne County (presently Svariņi Parish, Kraslava Municipality). Civil Engineer, Russian Railways Builder, Owner of Vārkava Manor for 7 years. Died August 28, 1918. Buried in Dubenz cemetery (formerly Kalupe Parish, presently Rožkalni Parish. Dorimendonts Aļeinikovs
  3. (in Latvian)Vārkava Manor Castle
  4. (in Latvian) Vārkava Manor
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