Naukšēnu Manor Palace complex is in Northern Vidzeme, Valmiera region, and attracts interest with its restored and well-preserved historical buildings and well-tended territory. The magnificent Naukšēni Manor Palace built in the German Empire style, is remarkable for its layout, exterior decoration, windows, and porch with two statues of majestic lions. In 2023, the Valmiera Municipality Government took over the management of the manor. Until now, the complex has been used for educational purposes, but the site has potential for tourism, cultural and business development.

The site covers an area of 66.22 ha (including 36.48 ha of forest) and contains 14 buildings. One part of the complex, on the ground floor of a former educational building (historically a stable building), houses a medical institution, which, however, does not operate the whole building. The Naukšēni Manor Palace is currently used for short-term rentals for public and private events and functions. The second floor of the castle is used for guest accommodation. Work has started to develop the attractiveness of the site by joining the Valmiera Regional Manor Network. Although the complex is already partly used, there is still plenty of room for new development ideas and opportunities, and the buildings and grounds can easily be adapted to business needs.

Available at Naukšēni Manor Palace complex:

▪ Naukšēni Manor Palace has rooms for seminars and celebrations (palace hall, fireplace hall and sauna), rooms for accommodation of guests;

▪ Dormitories with 25 rooms for 50 persons;

▪ Heated outbuilding (garage, workshop, production room, storage). It also contains a hall with ancillary rooms (WC, shower, wardrobes) of 234,5 m2, a garage of 58 m2 and ancillary rooms of 46,1 m2 and 104,4 m2;

▪ Heated greenhouses. Central building/corridor of 102 m2 with three separate blocks of 185 m2;

▪ Landscaped Park with open-air concert hall and pond;

▪ The unique Clock Tower is a highlight – this type of building is considered a rarity in Latvian manors. Reconstructed in 2002;

▪ Excursions around the Naukšēni Manor Palace complex are organized by the “Naukšēni Human Museum”;

▪ The boiler house supplies heat to the buildings of the manor complex and two neighboring apartment houses.

The Naukšēnu Manor Palace is a cultural monument of national importance. When looking for a tenant for the complex, the Valmiera Municipality Government considers it important to preserve the unique historical evidence of Naukšēni Manor Palace and to maintain public accessibility, such as the opportunity to visit the manor park, as well as the tenant’s contribution to the local community. In 2024, the floor for the open air stage will be replaced, the parquet floor of the castle hall will be cosmetically repaired, and other works will be carried out. In 2023, the Naukšēni Manor Palace dormitory rooms were rewired, cosmetic repairs started and the ceiling of the Naukšēni Manor Palace event hall was repaired.

Naukšēnu Manor Palace is located in the center of Naukšēni village, on the banks of the River Ruja – 9 km from Rūjiena, 42 km from Valmiera and 150 km from Riga. It is also on the Latvian-Estonian border: 95 km to Pärnu and 72 km to Viljandi (cities in Estonia). Naukšēni is a busy village, with many active and successful businesses providing jobs for its inhabitants. The most well-known are “Naukšēni” Ltd, Naukšēnu Winery and Ķoņu Mill.

About history

The manor house is mentioned in historical records as early as 1500. Around 1760, with the change of owners, the von Groth period began, during which the manor underwent its greatest changes, and Naukšēni – its greatest economic prosperity, becoming one of the most financially profitable estates in Vidzeme. The new Naukšēni Manor Castle (1843) is a testament to this greatness. The magnificent two-storey building, built in the German Empire style, impressed with its layout, exterior decoration, ornate windows and the so-called “Swiss-style” porch (late 19th century).

In 1919, Naukšēni Manor was the victim of war: the communists barbarically destroyed almost the entire interior and furniture. At the end of the same year, the Ministry of Agriculture took over the manor.

The building was rebuilt according to the project of architect Arnolds Čuibe (1938): wall and ceiling paintings were painted, parquet floor was replaced with a plank floor, the historic stoves were removed, and the dining room was rebuilt.

After the Second World War, the Naukšēni Palace was once again the place of children and young people’s chatter: it housed an orphanage and, from 1957, a vocational-technical school. After the reconstruction (1998), the Naukseni Training and Re-education Institution has administration and training rooms, an event hall and a small hotel. All the work has been commendable; with as few alterations as possible, the remaining historical evidence has been preserved.

Today: the manor house, stables, barn, cheese factory or clock tower and park are a cultural monument of national importance.

To find out more about the opportunities to rent/buy Naukšeni Manor, please contact Inita Niedzviedzis, Senior Business Support Specialist at Valmiera Municipality, by phone: 64207157 or e-mail: inita.niedzviedze@valmierasnovads.lv