Description
Liubavas Manor officine (the servants‘ house) and orangery belong to the valuable baroque architecture ensemble of the XVII century, yet these buildings are currently in need of urgent restoration. The project aims to stimulate tourism development in the area by accomplishing the remaining restoration works in the central part of the manor. Together with the Manor's mill - which was successfully restored with support of the EEA Grants in 2011 (and received Europa Nostra award in 2012) - a heritage site complex will be formed. The local identity will be enhanced and dialogue with national minorities will be promoted, as a community centre will be established in the restored premises. Also, two expositions will be equipped in the buildings: one presenting information on old orangeries of Lithuanian manors, the other – devoted to the famous sculptor and architect Rapolas Slizienis who resided in Liubavas Manor. An international conference to be organized about the architect will stimulate intercultural dialogue. In cooperation with the project partner - The Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) – seminars about cultural heritage research and restoration will be organised to increase public awareness and develop competences of the specialists.
Summary of project results
Liubavas Manor, situated near the capital, is one of the oldest of its kind in Lithuania, and has been mentioned in historical sources from the 15th century. This manor was owned by the royal family as well as by the most prominent families of the country, such as Goštautai, Radvilos, Tiškevičiai and others. In 2006, sculptor and architect Gintaras Karosas has started researching the history of this region and the manor, later he established Liubavas Manor Museum and initiated revitalization works of the manor‘s buildings and environment. During the course of the project, conservation and restoration works, as well as installation of engineering networks were carried out for the offcine and organgery (the oldest building of such purpose in Lithuania), comprising valuable baroque architectural ensemble of the 18th century. The restoration has been carefully carried out by considering all the particularities of the construction period and architectural characteristics and by preserving and exhibiting as much authenticity as possible: original heating system, plaster moulding and polychromy fragments, deformed building walls and other elements. Training workshops and a scientific conference “Rapolas Slizienis, a bridge between periphery nations” were organized within the project. Expositions were installed in the buildings, introducing the orangeries of Lithuanian manors, archaeological findings and other historical valuables discovered during the project, as well as the famous 19th century sculptor and architect Rapolas Slizienis. Also, conditions for community and cultural events to take place in the premises were created. Thus, a complex educational tourism object was formed - together with the Manor mill (restored in 2011 with support of the EEA grants and awarded with Europa Nostra prize) the central (represetative) part of the Liubavas Manor has been revived. The project was implemented in cooperation with the Norwegian Cultural Heritage Research Institute, which contributed with recommendations on the building restoration and actualization as well as with academic readings during public trainings.
Summary of bilateral results
The project was implemented in cooperation with the Norwegian Cultural Heritage Research Institute, which contributed with recommendations on the building restoration and actualization as well as with academic readings during public trainings.