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Founded: 1820sCategory: Palaces, manors and town halls in Estonia
Historical period: Part of the Russian Empire (Estonia)
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The history of Pirgu Mansion dates back to the 17th century. Earliest document is dated 1662 when mansion belonged to famous Estonian noble family -Ykskyll (Uexküll). Pirgu that was the wooden building back then had no substantial damages during North War (Põhjasõda), but was after this war sold to family Peez to whom it belonged over 100 years.
In 1819 Sir Gideon Von Sthal brought Pirgu for 90 000 silver roubles and started soon building of new presentable mansion-ensemble in place of an old wooden house. Demure in dimensions but still with a blaze of Hõreda in style there are similarities in proportions and shape. Exceptional attentiveness was shown to the park that has also influences from English Park. Park of Pirgu has been brought out as the park with most beautiful sights in Baltic States.
Elaborated are sights down the river; the sight of the lordly house opens on to road when one is on his way. Winding road leads along the coasts of the river through the contrastrly laid wood groups to the park square where the ensemble picture of pavilion, bridges and storehouses is seen. The tree sorts in park are interesting and rare. In this park you can also see the tallest nut tree in the Baltic States. About 250 different species of plants have been found in 10-hectare park. The park is under nature protection and manor house is under architectural protection.
The life in mansion had high times during the thirties of 19th century. It was followed by many changes in ownership in 1847 family of Wulffsdorff, in 1887 J.V. Hagemeister etc. And before the house was ruined to foundations in World War I the owner was Gessy Von Wetter-Rosenthal. Nowadays owner is Ruth - Kaja Pekk. House and the park were rebuilt from the ruins from 1984 to 1987 using the old drawings and pictures so today it is mainly the same as it used to be.
References:The Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc is a Baroque monument built in 1716–1754 in honour of God. The main purpose was a spectacular celebration of Catholic Church and faith, partly caused by feeling of gratitude for ending a plague, which struck Moravia between 1713 and 1715. The column was also understood to be an expression of local patriotism, since all artists and master craftsmen working on this monument were Olomouc citizens, and almost all depicted saints were connected with the city of Olomouc in some way. The column is the biggest Baroque sculptural group in the Czech Republic. In 2000 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.
The column is dominated by gilded copper sculptures of the Holy Trinity accompanied by the Archangel Gabriel on the top and the Assumption of the Virgin beneath it.
The base of the column, in three levels, is surrounded by 18 more stone sculptures of saints and 14 reliefs in elaborate cartouches. At the uppermost stage are saints connected with Jesus’ earth life – his mother’s parents St. Anne and St. Joachim, his foster-father St. Joseph, and St. John the Baptist, who was preparing his coming – who are accompanied by St. Lawrence and St. Jerome, saints to whom the chapel in the Olomouc town hall was dedicated. Three reliefs represent the Three theological virtues Faith, Hope, and Love.
Below them, the second stage is dedicated to Moravian saints St. Cyril and St. Methodius, who came to Great Moravia to spread Christianity in 863, St. Blaise, in whose name one of the main Olomouc churches is consecrated, and patrons of neighbouring Bohemia St. Adalbert of Prague and St. John of Nepomuk, whose following was very strong there as well.
In the lowest stage one can see the figures of an Austrian patron St. Maurice and a Bohemian patron St. Wenceslas, in whose names two important Olomouc churches were consecrated, another Austrian patron St. Florian, who was also viewed as a protector against various disasters, especially fire, St. John of Capistrano, who used to preach in Olomouc, St. Anthony of Padua, a member of the Franciscan Order, which owned an important monastery in Olomouc, and St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a patron of students. His sculpture showed that Olomouc was very proud of its university. Reliefs of all twelve apostles are placed among these sculptures.
The column also houses a small chapel inside with reliefs depicting Cain's offering from his crop, Abel's offering of firstlings of his flock, Noah's first burnt offering after the Flood, Abraham's offering of Isaac and of a lamb, and Jesus' death. The cities of Jerusalem and Olomouc can be seen in the background of the last mentioned relief.