The charming Lazdona Manor Castle has a long history and experienced its heydays long ago. For decades, the manor has been waiting for a dedicated owner who can restore its former splendor and bring its shine back to life.
Lazdona Manor is located in Lazdona village, next to Lazdona Lake, in the Madona region, 6 km from Madona city and 150 km from Rīga.
The grounds of Lazdona Manor, with several buildings, were constructed over various historical periods. The oldest building on the estate, a horse stable, was built in 1370 under the leadership of Daniel, a knight of the Livonian Order. The second oldest building, known as the White House, was constructed in 1588 and served as the manor house. The newest building on the estate is the manor castle, which was completed in 1876 during the ownership of Stankēvičs. All these buildings are still standing today, some repurposed for other uses, while others remain abandoned.
The castle was built in three years by architect Braun, using large gray boulders. The middle section is two stories high, with a tower. The castle's foundations date back to the Livonian period. The Lazdona Manor House reflects the influence of neo-Renaissance and villa architecture and comprises 22 rooms. The castle was completed around 1875-1876.
There are many stories surrounding Lazdona Manor, including that during World War I, it served as a military hospital, as the manor's owner was a surgeon. In the 1990s, a parish house with a library was housed here for a period.
After World War II, a fur farm was established at Lazdona, and the castle became home to its office, along with other administrative offices and apartments. In the early 1990s, the property was reclaimed by the descendants of the former owners, and ownership changed hands several times. Some of the first buyers had grand plans for its future, but due to the financial crisis in 2008, the property was abandoned, and the building remained unused.
In 2015, the film "Pelnu Sanatorium," directed by Dāvs Sīmanis, was filmed here. The events depicted in the film are based on real events that took place in the manor.
