Rokiškis Manor

The Tyzenhaus family rebuilt Rokiškis manor in the nineteenth century in a restrained neo-Gothic form, a long white house with a park, chapel and outbuildings, and the whole ensemble survives with the town laid out alongside it around an unusually large square and a tall neo-Gothic church. The manor holds the regional museum, whose strongest section is Lithuanian folk sculpture: carved wooden saints and crucifixes from roadside shrines, including works by named nineteenth-century carvers, along with a well-known collection of carved nativity scenes. Rooms of manor furnishing and local history complete it. The town is also known nationally for cheese. It is a long way from anywhere and receives few visitors.

History

Rokiškis manor is first mentioned in 1499, in a privilege of Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon, and from 1503 it belonged to Grand Duchess Helena; from the mid-16th century the manor and town were held in turn by the Kroszyński, Tyzenhauz and Przeździecki families (Wikipedia, Rokiškis Manor).

The main sights

• Folk sculpture - carved wooden saints from roadside shrines.
• Nativity collection - the carved scenes the museum is known for.
• The neo-Gothic manor - the white house and its park.
• The town square - the unusually large centre and its tall church.

When to go

May to September for the park; the museum is open year round and closes on Mondays. Winter shortens hours. The northeast is quiet at any time.

What to expect

Rokiškis is remote and public transport is slow. Interpretation is largely in Lithuanian. Some manor rooms are used for events rather than display. The town has limited food and accommodation.

Nearby

Lake Sartai lies southeast; Biržai is west.

Key facts