The house of Rainis in Berkenele

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Description

National landmark. Birkeneli was half a manor, one-time property of barons Fölkersahm, famous owing to the parents of J.Rainis – Krisjanis and Darta Plieksani, who rented it from A.Oettingen (1872 – 1881). Right here, in the shade of branchy lindens, on the hills on banks of river Laucesa, has passed Rainis’ childhood, the impressions of which are reflected in omnibus poems “Dagdas skiču burtnīca” (“Notebook of Sketches of Dagda”). Since 1965 in dwelling house of Birķeneļi half a manor functions museum of Rainis and here is located the exposition devoted to Rainis. At the present moment in the rooms of half a manor are organized exhibitions of applied arts, works of young painters, and ceramics. Here is also built a conference hall. Here is offered accommodation and rooms for organizing conferences, creative camps, and seminars. Household buildings of half a manor are preserved.

Birkeneli master house was built approximately in the middle of the 19th century. Relatively plain building from the side of the yard is one-storey, covered with ridged roof. From the side of the river, in the centre of the facade, there is built spacious veranda. The slope of the level of the ground reveals the ground floor. In Birķenele there is also a barn that was quite common in manor structures. The roof is similar to that of the dwelling house. The corners are adorned with rubble-walls that are not hidden behind the plaster. Pediments are simple framework construction that make in the end of 19th century built building architectonically expressive. The second household building is also preserved (the end of 19th century). It is two-storey building, but facades are changed by building new window openings.

There is a story about Birķeneļi survived. The proprietor obtained the manor and the coat of arms (wheel with broken out spokes) from Catherine the Great, when she once was seeing around remote parts of the country and was wishing to see how the citizens live there. While driving down the steep precipice that is situated near the manor, the horses of Catherine’s cart started to rage, coachman couldn’t restrain them anymore and it was evident that the noble guest would fall in the river. Escort didn’t know what to do and became motionless with fear. But there, near the road, was ploughing a farmer, strong youth. He made a dart for the horses, caught the wheel of the coach and, stemming himself against the ground, was trying to stop the coach. Three spokes of the wheel broke out, but the coach stopped right near the river. In reward for her rescue Catherine told her rescuer that he could walk for an hour marking the land with rods. All that would be marked will belong to him, to his children and to his children’s children. The man did so, and later he was appointed to landlord and received the coat of arms – coach wheel with three broken out spokes.

House of J.Rainis in Berķenele offers:

-Visitation of exposition “Rainis and Berkenele”.
-Visitation of the objects created in art ambiance during art campaign.
-Visitation of regional applied arts exhibition.
-Rent of rooms for seminars, conferences, other events.
-Accommodation for 20 people.
-Exhibitions of professional art.
-Thematic tours for different age groups.