Šlokenbeka Manor, Milzkalne, Smārde parish, Engure region
Working time
Šlokenbeka Manor:
every day 10:00 – 17:00
Latvian Road Museum:
may – october: M. closed, Tu. – Fri. 9:00 – 16:00, Sa. – Su. 10:00 – 17:00;
november – april M. – Fri. 9:00 – 16:00, Sa.– Su. closed
(+371) 29904147 Manor,
(+371) 63182354 Latvian Road Museum
info@slokenbeka.lv
www.slokenbeka.lv
Nowadays the Šlokenbeka Manor ensemble is among the most unique and original cultural monuments in Latvia; it was first mentioned in writings in 1484. It is one of very few fortified medieval manor samples in the Baltic States and the only one in Latvia,
which has preserved up to the modern times.
The Šlokenbeka Manor was first mentioned in historical sources after 1484, when according to the historians its construction was started to protect the nearby Tukums from enemy attacks. From the oldest manor constructions, the portholes in the walls have been preserved to the modern times.
A tour of the Šlokenbeka Manor will teach about the history, economic activity and social life of the manor. The manor offers wine tasting in its 400-year old cellar, where you will have an opportunity to taste the products of winemakers of Kurzeme. The manor premises and the courtyard can be hired for festive and corporate events, but if you wish to stick around, you can stay overnight at the manor hotel and enjoy a lovely meal at the manor pub.
The manor also houses the Latvian Road Museum where you can learn about the development of the Latvian road industry.
www.visittukums.lv
Šlokenbeka Castle (Latvian: Šlokenbekas pils, German: Ordensburg Schlockenbeck) is a fortified manor in the historical region of Semigallia, in Latvia. It is the only existing example of a fortified manor centre in Latvia. It started its existence as a castle of the Livonian Order before 1544. In 1845 Šlokenbeka manor house was built inside the defensive walls of the castle.
History
Šlokenbeka was built in the 15th century as a fortified castle in the Milzkalne village. It was built in a trapeze-type yard, which was enclosed with stone walls and portholes. In 1772 the attic roofs were added to the building. In the seventeenth century towers with portals and weathervanes were erected, but Šlokenbeka lost its defence function, being then adapted for domestic purposes.
At the end of the eighteenth century new buildings were built and old buildings were renewed. New gate towers were added at the north and south walls. Between 1841 and 1845, a new manor house in classicist style was built at the north wall. In the 1930s Šlokenbeka lost some of its buildings. During Soviet times it housed the 5th road maintenance unit. Now it contains the Latvian Road Construction History Museum and a restaurant.
en.wikipedia.org