Dole Manor

Dole Manor (Dahlen) is located in Salaspils municipality, at the heart of Dole Island on the banks of the Sausā Daugava (Dry Daugava) river. It is a significant cultural and historical site, surrounded by a vast landscape park, and has been home to the Daugava Museum for nearly half a century.

Brief History

• Origins: The area surrounding Dole Manor has been mentioned in historical sources since the 13th century, when it was the site of the vassal castle of the Archbishopric of Riga (Vecdole Castle), which was later destroyed.

• The New Manor: The current manor center began to develop in the 17th century. From 1776 to 1827, the estate belonged to the von Vietinghoff family, who established an extensive landscape park.

• The Last Owners: From 1827 until the Latvian agrarian reform in 1920, the manor was owned by the von Löwis of Menar family.

• State Ownership: After the reform, the manor house served as the Dole Primary School until 1954, and was later used by a local fishermen's kolkhoz (collective farm).

Architectural Description

The current residential building of Dole Manor was constructed in 1898, commissioned by its last owner, Heinrich von Löwis of Menar.

The building was designed in the Eclecticism style, which was popular at the end of the 19th century, featuring predominantly Neo-Renaissance and Classicism elements. It is a two-story masonry structure characterized by symmetrical facade proportions and expressive architectural decor. The visual presence of the house is complemented by the adjacent 10-hectare landscape park, originally designed according to the vision of Baron Otto Hermann von Vietinghoff.

Modern Function

Since 1977, the main house of Dole Manor has housed the Daugava Museum. It is the only museum in Latvia dedicated entirely to the history of the Daugava River, its riverside inhabitants, traditional crafts, and surrounding environment.

The indoor exhibitions showcase the ancient trade routes of the Daugava, the history of local boatmen and rafters, and the river valley landscape before the construction of the hydro-power plant cascade. The manor park features an open-air section containing the historic "Mellupi" fisherman's farmstead and reconstructions of traditional salmon and lamprey weir structures.

Interesting Facts

• Open-Air Theater: In the late 18th century, Baron von Vietinghoff developed the manor park specifically to serve as a scenic venue for open-air theatrical performances and concerts.

• Classicism Vase: The park features a unique early 19th-century sculpture — a stone vase crafted by the prominent German sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow.

• Natural Monuments: The estate grounds include protected natural sites: the Dole Island dolomite outcrop, which is one of the few remaining visible cliffs along the banks of the Daugava, and the approximately 400-year-old Dole secular oak.

Practical Information

• Address: Doles sala, Salaspils pagasts, Salaspils novads, LV-2121, Latvia

• Phone: +371 67216367, +371 29344480

• E-mail: daugavas.muzejs@inbox.lv, daugavas.muzejs@salaspils.lv

• Website: www.daugavasmuzejs.lv

Opening Hours:

• Mondays: Closed

• Tuesdays – Thursdays: 10:00 – 17:00

• Fridays – Sundays: 10:00 – 18:00 (Note: During the winter season, the museum and the park are typically open until 17:00 daily, except Mondays).