Traveller's campaign: Visit Baltic manors

131 historic manor houses and castles in three Baltic countries will open their doors to the visitors in summer 2018. The manor associations of three countries have joined their forces to organize a cross-border event to visualize the density of manor network and the range of it's services in these countries; to highlight the significance of the manors as drivers of cultural, economic and regional development in the past as well as today. Visitors are expected from May 24th till Sept 16th.
The campaign is organized by Estonian Manor Association, Estonian Manor School Association, Latvian Association of Castles, Palaces and Manors and Lithuanian Association of Castles and Manors.

While celebrating the centenaries of the restoration of independence of Lithuania, the declaration of Latvian and Estonian states, the associations of manors and castles of three countries unite to demonstrate the symbolic continuation of the Baltic chain. The past as well as the present day of Baltic countries is rich for its challenging contradictions both for their legacy as well as intercultural dialogue. One of these intriguing themes is the fate of the manors through the 20th century. The former carriers of political power, architectural and cultural glory; birthplaces of well-known world explorers, artists, writers, scientists, etc. have witnessed new functions, but even more the abandonment and decay during 20th century. The renaissance of the legacy of the manors started very slowly in the 1980s; the first studies and conservation works paved the way to the reuniting with the European cultural area in 1991.

Since then the states, municipalities, heritage authorities, but most of all hundreds of private owners have dedicated their time, resources and energy to preserve and revitalize the former glory of the manors. The contemporary challenge is to restore the position of the manors as the drivers of rural economic and cultural development in the urbanizing societies - as exciting museums, as boutique hotels, as modern educational and cultural centres, as well as local kitchen populizers.

The contemporary manor owners formed national associations in early 2000s to create a platform to exchange knowledge and support each other. For the first time the associations of three Baltic countries have joined forces to create a common traveller's campaign to visualize the density of manor network, to explore the similarities and differences, to witness personally the effort of the people who work hard to preserve our common heritage.

The symbol of the travel campaign is a key – a reference to the manor or castle opening doors to the new discoveries in cultural heritage. Visitors will collect the symbolic keys as a memory of experience and feelings .

Visitors are expected from May 24th till September 16th. Closing event in Latvia have been planned on October 28th

The travel campaign is dedicated to the centenaries of the restoration of the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, European Year of Cultural Heritage as well as to so many individuals and institutions who work with strong mission to safeguard this unique heritage.

TRAVELLER'S CAMPAIGN: VISIT BALTIC MANORS
For exciting news and events in Baltic manors, please follow:
www.visitbalticmanors.com
www.facebook.com/visitbalticmanors/

Travel campaign rules:
The aim of the traveller campaign is to show a large variety of manors throughout the whole summer and therefore the number of open manors varies day by day. It is important to check always out which manors are open on the day of Your travel. Information on the open manors, opening hours and events is available at www.visitbalticmanors.com
Visitors are invited to collect stickers or stamps for every visit on a participant card available in every participating manor. Everyone collecting more than 5 stickers or stamps from home country and 10 from neighbors will participate in the lottery of awards. The awards donated by the participating manors will be drawn at the Closing event.

Participating Manors from Latvia:
Abgunstes muiža, Alūksnes Jaunā pils, Arendoles muiža, Berķenes muiža, Bīriņu pils, Blankenfeldes muiža, Cesvaines pils, Cēsu pils komplekss, Dikļu pils, Dundagas pils, Durbes pils, Elejas muižas Tējas namiņš, Gārsenes muiža, Igates pils, Jaunauces muiža, Jaunmoku pils, Jaunpils pils, Kārļa muiža, Kokmuižas pils komplekss, Krāslavas muiža, Krimuldas muiža, Krustpils pils, Lielplatones muiža, Lielvircavas muiža, Limbažu pilsmuiža, Litenes muiža, Lizuma muiža, Lūznavas muiža, Mālpils pilsmuiža, Mežotnes pils, Padures muiža, Preiļu muižas komplekss un parks, Rankas muiža, Skrundas muiža, Smuku muiža, Šlokenbekas muiža, Tukuma pilsētas vēstures muzejs “Pils tornis”, Turaidas pils un pilsmuiža, Ungurmuiža, Vadakstes muiža, Varakļānu pils, Vecauces pils, Veselavas muiža, Virkas muiža, Zaļā (Zaļenieku) muiža, all together 45.

Participating Manors from Estonia:
Alatskivi mõis, Allikukivi veinimõis, Anija mõis, Arkna mõis, Aruküla mõis, Aruküla (Koeru) mõis,  Atla mõis, Cantervilla loss, Haeska mõis, Illuka mõis, Jäneda mõis, Kassari mõis, Kernu mõis, Kiltsi mõis, Koigi mõis, Kolu mõis, Kostivere mõis, Kukruse Polaarmõis, Kumna mõis, Kuremaa loss, Kärstna mõis, Lasila mõis, Lihula mõis, Loona mõis, Luke mõis, Maidla mõis,  Muhu pastoraat, Muuga mõis, Olustvere mõis, Palmse mõis, Palupera mõis, Pidula, mõis Pilguse mõis, Puurmani mõis,  Raikküla mõis, Ravila mõis, Rogosi mõis, Roosna-Alliku mõis, Räpina mõis, Saka mõis, Sangaste loss, Suislepa mõis, Suure-Lähtru mõis, Suuremõisa loss, Vana-Vigala mõis, Vana-Võidu mõis,  Vasalemma mõis, Vasta mõis, Vihula mõis, Võidula, mõis Vääna mõis, all together 55.

Participating manors from Lithuania:
Abromiškių dvaras, Akmenos dvaras, Alantos dvaras, Aristavelės dvaras, Aštriosios Kirsnos dvaras, Aukštosios Fredos dvaras, Babtyno Žemaitkiemio dvaras, Biržų pilis, Bistrampolio dvaras, Buivydiškių dvaras, Čiobiškio dvaras, Dautarų dvaras, Gedimino pilis, Jakiškių dvaras, Jašiūnų dvaras, Kelmės dvaras, Kurtuvėnų dvaras, Liubavo dvaras, Markučių dvaras, Paberžės dvaras, Paliesiaus dvaras, Panemunės pilis, Plungės dvaras, Renavo dvaras, Rokiškio dvaras, Saldutiškio dvaras, Trakų salos pilis, Trakų Vokės dvaras, Vasaknų dvaras, Zyplių dvaras, Žeimių dvaras, all together 31.