Spectacular 504-Year-Old Manor Estate Complex with a Wonderful 150-Year-Old Park in Northern Latvia Awaiting Its Renaissance. This beautiful manor, with a lot of historic buildings, ponds, and a small river running through the entire property, is set on a land area of 270,100 m².
Historical Names: Wirken, Wirkken, Würken, Würkenhoff
Established in: 1520
The 16th Century
In 1520, on the orders of Wolter von Plettenberg, the Livonian Order Master, several land parcels were leased to Kuddelen, who merged them and created the manor.
In 1690, the manor was confiscated by Swedish King Karl XI but was soon returned.
The 18th Century
The Virkeni Manor remained under the ownership of the von Engelhardt family, who successfully managed it.
From 1820, the manor was overseen by artillery lieutenant and assessor Anton Johan II von Engelhardt (1788-1874) and his wife Sophie Magdalena Helene von Numers (1787-1848). Later, it was inherited by their son, Baron Karl Gustav Georg von Engelhardt (1811-1887), who married Eveline Katherine von Engelhardt (1826-1853) in 1850.
In 1820, the manor was home to 324 inhabitants (154 men and 170 women), and by 1860, according to the Rujiene Church Convent's records, 249 inhabitants lived there.
The 20th Century
In 1920, the 704-hectare Virkeni Manor was taken over by the Latvian state and included in the State's Land Bank.
Afterward, it was part of the Latvian Professional Gymnasium system, and since 2006, it has been under private ownership.
Potential Uses
This is a perfect place for foreign buyers to create an amazing wedding venue or for private use. Additionally, purchasing this property could grant EU residency status in Latvia.
