Dikli Manor, Kocēni, Latvia - SpottingHistory.com

Dikļi Manor was the property of von Wolf family in the 19th century. Dikli Palace was built for Baron P. von Wolf in 1896. Covering forms of the central facade are repeating type-lines of mansard roofs' side risalites. That kind of treatment of German Beo-Broque style is not a copy of abroad masterpieces, but unique creation using international language of style and adapting it to the local culture enviroment. Mansard was rebuilt in continous years, so a bit of Baroque charm was wasted.

The buildings of the Dikļi castle are organically complemented by a park spanning 20 hectares. Adjacent to the palace lies a duck pond, which is said to have had a floor made of oak. Mazbriede River begins just beyond the pond, whose ravines contain a landscape garden, also known as the Forest Park. In the 1960s, after surveying Dikļi castle park, it was found that approximately 20 exotic trees grow on its grounds.

Dikļi castle is one of the few palaces and landed estates in Vidzemes where much of the original interior décor has been relatively well-preserved. The palace contains a collection of luxurious old stoves and fireplaces. Dikļi castle was restored in 2003. At the moment, the palace houses a hotel, a restaurant, a spa, a recreational facility with saunas, whirlpool bathtubs and a pool, and it provides a venue for various functions.

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User Reviews

Marko Ponder (3 years ago)
Super place, fantastic! Food is also excellent!

Carlos Guerlloy (3 years ago)
Wonderful, peaceful place Friendly staff. It worths the little higher prices.

Friedhelm Schwender (3 years ago)
Nice old Hotel in a marbeleous nature area

Rimantas SV (3 years ago)
Nice place with lot of authentic details and wifi :) Food was superb, time spend very well.

Anna Grohoļska (3 years ago)
I am giving 4 stars only because of the restaurant,really. 3 stars for hotel. Room: 2/5 stars Although we stayed here in off season (winter) the Princess room costs a fortune for what it is! And it is just outdated room with antique furniture. Ceilings are cracking, bathroom has either too hot or too cold water, uncomfortable old bed, noises from the water pipes... the list goes on. Even in 3 star hotels I have seen better. And interior is gloomy and dark, not my cup of tea. Dissapointment. Breakfast in bed: 3 /5 stars SPA: 2/5 stars (although they will be having a steam sauna and other updates, so that might raise the overall spa level) Restaurant: 4/5 stars In my opinion, restaurant is the best reason to visit Dikļi! A gem amongst restaurants around this area. Menu is local as it can get, interesting flavor combinations. Been here twice in autumn/winter and definitely planning to visit again in summer, when the restaurant is located in another room with a terrace.

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Historic Site of the week

Lednice Castle

The first historical record of Lednice locality dates from 1222. At that time there stood a Gothic fort with courtyard, which was lent by Czech King Václav I to Austrian nobleman Sigfried Sirotek in 1249.

At the end of the 13th century the Liechtensteins, originally from Styria, became holders of all of Lednice and of nearby Mikulov. They gradually acquired land on both sides of the Moravian-Austrian border. Members of the family most often found fame in military service, during the Renaissance they expanded their estates through economic activity. From the middle of the 15th century members of the family occupied the highest offices in the land. However, the family’s position in Moravia really changed under the brothers Karel, Maximilian, and Gundakar of Liechtenstein. Through marriage Karel and Maximilian acquired the great wealth of the old Moravian dynasty of the Černohorskýs of Boskovice. At that time the brothers, like their father and grandfather, were Lutheran, but they soon converted to Catholicism, thus preparing the ground for their rise in politics. Particularly Karel, who served at the court of Emperor Rudolf II, became hetman of Moravia in 1608, and was later raised to princely status by King Matyas II and awarded the Duchy of Opava.

During the revolt of the Czech nobility he stood on the side of the Habsburgs, and took part in the Battle of White Mountain. After the uprising was defeated in 1620 he systematically acquired property confiscated from some of the rebels, and the Liechtensteins became the wealthiest family in Moravia, rising in status above the Žerotíns. Their enormous land holdings brought them great profits, and eventually allowed them to carry out their grandious building projects here in Lednice.

In the 16th century it was probably Hartmann II of Liechtenstein who had the old medieval water castle torn down and replaced with a Renaissance chateau. At the end of the 17th century the chateau was torn down and a Baroque palace was built, with an extensive formal garden, and a massive riding hall designed by Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach that still stands in almost unaltered form.

In the mid-18th century the chateau was again renovated, and in 1815 its front tracts that had been part of the Baroque chateau were removed.

The chateau as it looks today dates from 1846-1858, when Prince Alois II decided that Vienna was not suitable for entertaining in the summer, and had Lednice rebuilt into a summer palace in the spirit of English Gothic. The hall on the ground floor would serve to entertain the European aristocracy at sumptuous banquets, and was furnished with carved wood ceilings, wooden panelling, and select furniture, surpassing anything of its kind in Europe.

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