Mārcienas manor
About the manor
History
Archaeological excavations have found the oldest burial site in Marcien from the 2nd century, but Marcien – Marxne – was first mentioned in writing in 1213 in the Chronicle of Henry, when Riga Bishop Albert and the King of Jersika Visvaldis met in Marxne to sign a surrender agreement, by which the lands of the Jersika state, like Courland and Zemgale before them, came into the possession of the German Crusaders and the Livonian Order.
Since the end of the 13th century, Mārciena was the property of the barons Tīzenhausen family. From the mid-19th century, Mārciena was owned by Baron Voldemārs von Maidel. In the middle of Vidzeme, he created an outstanding masterpiece of the neo-rococo style, the most luxurious castle in the Baltics. Unique photographs of the exterior and interior have been preserved in the Latvian State History Museum. Mārciena Manor was built a little later as an economic unit and hunting estate.
In 1918, the Mārcienas Castle burned down. The Mārcienas Manor was not affected by the Soviet Red Terror. At that time, the owner of the manor was Bron von Hansmann. His wife Veronika Asers was one of the most talented students of the composer Jāzeps Vītols and the founders of the Latvian State Conservatory. In accordance with the laws of the Free State of Latvia, the manor was reduced after World War I. After World War II, an orphanage was opened in the manor, where the writer Ilze Indrāne worked and described the time, until 1996. The manor housed the Mārcienas Elementary School. Since 2003, the manor has been completely renovated, with reverence and maximum preservation of historical evidence.
Coat of arms of the manor
The coat of arms of the Baron Maidela family from Vidzeme was found thanks to the outstanding heraldic expert Imantas Lancmanis. The design of the coat of arms was plasticized in 2008 by the sculptor Jānis Srupulis. The coat of arms was recast in the workshops of Rundāle Castle, and gilded there. Its height is 2m, width 1.50 m, weight 1.5 t. The face covering with ostrich feathers depicted in the coat of arms confirms the title of baron, the bullets – heroism, the fish – wealth and luck.
Manor buildings and park
Unlike the castle, the manor has always been an economic structure, the task of which was to ensure the prosperity of the lord of the castle. The Mārcienas manor was sold by Baron von Maidel around 1860. Its last owner was Baron von Hanshman. The Mārcienas manor complex consists of 6 buildings – the Manor House, the Granary – the current SPA house, the Horse Stable, the current Stone House, the Forge – the current apartments or the Blacksmith’s House, the servants’ house, as well as the ruins of the mill near the pond that was bombed during the war.
History
Archaeological excavations in Mārcienė have found the oldest burial site from the 2nd century, but Mārcienė – Marxne – was first mentioned in writing in 1213 in the Chronicle of Henry.
According to historian Juris Ģērmanis, in 1213, the king of Jersika, Visvaldis, was forced to sign a humiliating treaty in Riga Castle, by which the lands of the Jersika state, like Kurzeme and Zemgale before them, came into the possession of the German crusaders and the bishop of Riga, Albert. In a treacherous attack, when the city of Jersika was burned down in 1209, the bishop's soldiers kidnapped the wife of King Visvaldis, a princess of Lešiai. And no matter how King Visvaldis, together with the Lešiai troops, tried to regain his lands in heroic battles, our last national hero also had to surrender to slavery, which lasted in our land for the next 700 years...
Since the end of the 13th century, Mārciena was the property of the barons Tiesenhausen family.
The first school was built in Mārcienė as early as 1740.
In 1908, the first Library Society was established.
About Marcienas Castle
From 1885, it was owned by Baron Voldemar von Maidel, of Baltic German origin. In the heart of Vidzeme, he created an outstanding masterpiece of the neo-Rococo style, the most luxurious palace in the Baltics. It can be seen in pictures from the State History Museum.
Unfortunately, the Soviets soon came, and in 1918, the Mārcienas Castle burned down. As the story goes, the baron set the castle on fire and shot himself.
Since 1918, when Latvia became an independent state, Mārcienas parish has been a strong manufacturing, economic and cultural center. A flax factory, a dairy, a water mill, brick production, agriculture and livestock farming operated here. Many public associations, a theater and a choir operated in the People's House, the Madona County Song Festival and the Latvian Aviation Festival were held in Mārcienas, and the President of the Republic Kārlis Ulmanis visited Mārcienas.
World War II begins
But June 23, 1941, arrived, and World War II began. The years of Soviet and German occupation of Mārciena.
On June 14, 1941, 9 people were deported from Mārcienė to Siberia.
November 15, 1944, there is war, and an orphanage is opened in the Mārcienas Manor.
Another deportation, March 25, 1949. 61 people were deported to Siberia from Mārcienas parish.
And when everyone is intimidated by Siberia, they can take away the farmers' land, livestock, and freedom. So in 1949, the first collective farms are forcibly established in Mārcienė. And then comes another communist blow to Mārcienė. The Cold War begins in the world, the USSR arms itself, and it is decided to build a large, secret nuclear missile base in Mārcienė. But, fortunately, it is discovered by American spies, and it is further built as an unmanned aviation base. But still, thousands of people from Russia come to stay in Mārcienė. Mārcienė is no longer the old Mārcienė. Houses are built, roads are concreted - you can still see their slums today. Morals and traditions are changing. "We live on this side of the Arona, on the other side - they...", say the old Mārcienės to this day.
The Popular Front was founded in March
At the same time as the National Awakening in the 1980s, the People's Front was also founded in Mārcienė, and the people of Mārcienė went to Riga in large numbers to the barricades. It was the will of the people and the heroism of the people, which we must not forget or underestimate. It was only thanks to the people of Mārcienė that on May 4, 1991, Latvia finally became a free country again.
In May 1993, the numerous Soviet army left Mārcienas parish. It was a victory for Mārcienas independence fighters. Unfortunately, Mārcienas did not fare so well with the elected people's representatives at that time, and only some of the buildings left in good order by the soldiers - a school, a kindergarten, a club - were able to be used for the development of the parish. The remaining buildings, unfortunately, were uneconomically abandoned, until gradually the slums with broken windows, together with the destroyed national cultural environment, left many people in the parish with the stamp of apathy.
But there are also good signs. In 1994, the owners renovated the historic Smeceres pub. Now a guesthouse, music club and restaurant.
In 2006 , the Solim family renovated the former buildings of the Mārcienas Lejas Patmalnieki Elementary School – now it is the SPA resort “Mārcienas muiža”.
In 2006 , the owners renovated an old farm and opened the guest house "Puduļi".
In 2007 , at the insistence of residents, after decades of promises, the Mārciena – Sauleskalns state highway was finally paved with asphalt.
In 2008 , with the support of the Solim family and other donors, the St. Alexei Orthodox Church in Mārciena was restored, and regular services are held again.
In 2009 , the concrete production plant "Cemex" began operating in Mārcienas parish, and street lighting, water pipes, and sewage systems were installed in the center with EU funds.
On November 18, 2011 , the Marcien History Museum was opened in Marcien.
On March 9, 2012, the association "Konzums" was founded in Mārcienė. Its goal is not only to restore the old People's House in the center of the parish, but also to encourage the people of Mārcienė to become more active for a better life. And, what is more important, the Madona County Council has also been approached and supports the restoration of houses abandoned by the Soviet army, so that life, people and the future of the parish can come back to them.
In 2013 , the 800th anniversary of Mārcien was celebrated, and a memorial stone was laid in the parish center in honor of the anniversary, which was financed by the chairman of Konzums, Māris Štrombergs, a native of Mārcien.