TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
* Enclosed yard 1500 sq m.
* Land plot for rent from the state
* Plot area 2.7 ha
* Lease term until 2050
Stables:
* 19 stalls for horses of 16 sq m each
* 15 stalls for horses of 12 sq m each
* Riding arena
* Total area 1600 sq m.
* Grandstands can accommodate 200 spectators
The riding arena building has a lovely relaxation area. On the ground floor, a kitchen and a living room are located in a common area. Here you can relax on the comfortable furniture and enjoy the warmth of the fireplace. The rooms are illuminated by large crystal chandeliers. A winding staircase with metallic openwork railings leads to the first floor, where a new space opens up for use as a work area.
The corridor on the first floor retains an authentic red brick wall. There are three cosy bedrooms, a large dressing room, a shower and a bathroom. The furniture retains the emotion and style of the period. The entire room has underfloor heating.
LOCATION HISTORY
The name of Žagarė was mentioned on 6 July 1495, when Grand Duke Alexander I of Lithuania granted permission for the establishment of markets and taverns in Žagarė Manor. At the end of the 16th century, the governor of Žagarė was the Voivode of Trakai, Mikalojus Kristupas Radvila. In 1589, the Šiauliai economy was established, it was the largest state land holding in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which included, in addition to Žagarė, the towns of Joniškis, Šiauliai, Radviliškis and Gruzdžiai. The towns suffered heavily during the Northern Wars of the 17th-18th centuries. After the Second Division of the Republic of Both Nations, Tsarina Catherine II donated Žagarė to her favourite P. Zubov. In 1857 the towns were bought by Count Dmitry Naryshkin, whose descendants established button and soap factories in the early 20th century.
The present park next to the manor and the stud farm was planted by Dmitry Naryshkin according to the design of the famous dendrologist from Riga, Georg Friedrich Ferdinand Kuphald. It is one of the largest and most beautiful mixed-style parks in Lithuania, second only to Palanga Park in terms of tree species.
The stud farm, riding arena and coach house complex is a very striking feature of the estate. It was built around 1895-1900, when the park was expanded. The stud farm, the coach house and the arena were built of good quality materials, emphasising their colours and textures. The plinths are made of hewn stone, the walls of red brick and the roofs are covered with mountain slate. The exterior of the buildings is reminiscent of the English Gothic style, following in the direction of what is known as Gothic Revival. This movement spread throughout Europe in the 19thcentury.
The red-brick neo-Gothic stables, the arena and the manor’s auxiliary buildings have been preserved to this day.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Žagarė is a town in the Joniškis district, 26 km north-west of Joniškis, 3 km from the Latvian border, 80 km from the airport and seaport of Riga. It is the centre of the eldership, with 3 sub-elderships (Old Žagarė, Švėtė, Žagarė Centre). The Old Town is protected by the state as an urban monument. Historically, the town was formed from two towns: the Old Žagarė in the northern part of the town and the New Žagarė in the central and southern part.
COACH HOUSE
The former coach house building has been adapted for stables, with stalls installed in a single space, divided only by rows of wooden pillars. Three gates have been built on the gallery side. In the overall composition, the coach house is accentuated by a graceful conical turret with a weather vane above a gable roof.
STABLES
The narrow, elongated stables are divided by densely arranged buttresses. Between them, there are segmental lintel windows divided into small subdivisions. In the middle of the building there are symmetrical two-storey overhangs for ancillary rooms. The single interior space of the stables is divided by two rows of wooden pillars. They not only support the beams of the roof but also hold the stall fences. The metal stall railings are made of cast iron, the spiral staircase and other metal equipment was imported from England. The stall fencing and the enamelled horse feeding troughs were manufactured in 1870 at the famous Izon Works factory in London. The stables have their original water and sewage system, which is still in perfect working order. The interior is lined with blue glazed tiles. The flooring in the stables is a clinker monolith which has not deteriorated to date. From the beginning, the stables have been equipped with spacious, larger than normal stalls for the horses. The stalls are UK-made and have been restored to the original. The stables have been completely renovated, preserving authenticity and functionality as much as possible.
The construction of the buildings, the spacious stalls, the well-functioning sewage system, the good ventilation: all of which helps to maintain the excellent health of horses.
The stud farm is a symbol of the city, one of the oldest stables in Lithuania (founded in 1899).
RIDING ARENA
The riding arena is large (plan dimensions 60x25 m). The space is covered by the original construction of wooden trusses with curved spokes without any additional supports. Arena room is bright. Thanks to the special construction of the arena and the thick walls, the arena always has fresh, cool air, even in hot summer. It is as if a huge air conditioner were operating in the arena. The arena has the base, the quartz sand and the irrigation system. This is especially important when training the horses or during competitions.
The arena has grandstands for spectators at the entrance. The former count’s box has also been preserved, where he liked to sit and watch competitions or horse exercises.
If required, it is also possible to purchase the nearby stables with 100 stalls, 2 working arenas of 520 sq m and 800 sq m.
