Castles and Manors

The first written information about the estate dates back to the 3rd quarter of the 18th century.  It is known that in 1769, the estate had 14 buildings.  Charlotte Lieven received Mežotne as a gift from Russian Empress Catherine the Great in 1759.  The estate suffered much damage during World War I.  After the war it became an exemplary estate, but its roof and mansard burned down during World War II.  Restoration of the estate began in 2007.  Today Mazmežotne Estate is a beautiful place, surrounded by nature. It offers recreational facilities, including accommodations, dining, banquet facilities for events and seminars, as well as biking, boating and hiking for those who enjoy exercise.  The former stables and barn offer spacious halls for celebrations, weddings, seminars, concerts, exhibitions. One of the buildings houses a SPA complex with a range of relaxing procedures.  The open chimney house offers an exhibition of the history of sugar-beet cultivation and sugar production industry in Latvia. The old cheese house is now a sauna with a relaxation room, a hot water tub outdoors, and a terrace.

This restored historical estate has a luxurious hotel with 23 rooms and the Rose Saloon where dishes are offered from locally grown ingredients.  Pamper yourself in the spa salon with milk baths and massages.  There is a sauna with a fireplace hall, small pool, aromatic steam bath and sauna.  Lovers of sauna rituals have access to a white countryside sauna and a black stone sauna.  There are facilities for larger and smaller celebrations.  There is an area for caravans, as well as tennis courts for athletes.  Visit the Milk Museum to learn all about milk.  You can try your hand at milking a cow and churning butter that you can taste after it is done.  You can listen to a speaking little cow, Venta, who will talk about the origins of milk.  Also resident on the state are deer, sheep and horses named Mia and Mara.  The estate is surrounded by an apple orchard and park, with all trees labelled.  Next door is the Garīki farm, where mushrooms are grown.  It is also worth a visit.  The estate is on the edge of the Southern Courlandian Highlands, offering beautiful views of the surrounding area. 

Abgunste Manor is an 18th-century Baroque-style building, located a 25-minute drive from Jelgava. Guests are invited to enjoy stories from the manor’s hosts and participate in guided tours. Visitors can participate in various creative workshops, indulge in authentic "edible celebrations," and stay overnight in uniquely designed guest rooms. The manor is a popular venue for full-service celebrations, offering spacious event halls, a picturesque manor park, catering, decorating, and event planning services. The manor’s owners, Asnāte and Jānis Avotnieki purchased the property in 2016 and, together with the "Creative Haven" association, are dedicated to its restoration and development. Members of "Lauku Ceļotājs" since 2025.

The Blankenfelde Estate is a cultural monument of national importance.  The name of the estate was first recorded in 1462 when the Master of the Livonian Order rents the lands between the Svēte and Platone rivers to Claus von Medeheym (Medem). In 1561/62 during the age of the Duchy of Courland it becomes a private Estate, and is owned by von Medem family for nearly three centuries. The next owners are von Buttlar, von Manteuffel-Szoege, von Koenigsfels and von Hahn families. The Blankenfelde Estate buildings were erected in 1740-ies. Ther rooms in the main house are aligned in enfilades, decorated with Baroque interior elements. There is a typical vaulted cellar. The master’s house differs from the servants‘ quarters with its mezzanine along the building’s central axis and the second dloor. During the 19th century verandas are added supported by columns, and the building acquires the traits of Classicism. In 1924 – 1970 the estate serves as a home for elderly. During Soviet time, seasonal labour is accommodated in estate’s rooms. Today, the estate is privately owned. The noble looks are restored with renovations of the gatehouse and the gates, the stables, the landscape park. Roses and peonies adorn the estate’s garden. The buildings now contain a hotel, a modern production facility for juices and wines. The former stable houses a collection of bells from all the world’s countries. There are facilities for events with up to 60 participants. 

This is one of the largest castles in Kurzeme, and it has survived to this very day without much damage.  Construction on it began in the mid-13^th century by the Rīga Dome.  In 1434, the bishop of Kurzeme bought the Dundaga Estate, and from the 16^th to the 20^th century, it was owned by the noble Maidel and Osten-Zacken dynasties.  The Dundaga Castle has burned down twice and been rebuilt many times, most recently after the fire that was set during the 1905 Revolution.  The stone images of a knight and a bishop on the left and right side of the door are interesting.  The hotel, second-floor hall and terrace that is popular for weddings have all been restored in recent years.  There are many legends about the castle, including an elf wedding and the Green Girl.  Today the castle houses the Dundaga School of Music and Art, a hotel with halls for celebrations, the Dundaga Tourism Information Centre and various exhibitions.  Guides are available for tours, and groups of tourists can order tastings of local foods.