Vasaknai Manor

Vasaknai Manor barn (2004)

Vasaknai Manor is a former residential manor. It is located 6 kilometers from Antalieptė, 7 kilometers from Dusetos, in the East coast of Vasaknai lake.

In 1505 the Manor was bought by Radvilos – one of the richest families in Europe at the time. Later on, the Manor was bought out by Pliateriai who were famous not for their riches but for patriotism. The family became actively involved in the uprising of 1831 (Lithuania had then been annexed by Russia). This resulted in the confiscation of all their property including the Manor by the czarist government.

The Manor of Vasaknos was doomed for decay but luckily count Jonas Mykolas Tiskevicius took the property into his hands. Tiskeviciai family were the largest Lithuania’s landowners in the 19th century. They owned the Manor up until the beginning of the First World War. But when Lithuania was occupied and integrated into the Soviet Union, the Manor rotted away to its foundation.

In 2003 the Manor of Vasaknos was acquired by its current owners, who, with the financial support from the European Union Structural Funds, have brought it back to life. Today the Manor ensemble is composed of a barn (the building that has been rebuilt), servant house (a brewery today with additional rooms), stabling, the ruins of the original Manor and a park, which has been announced a national heritage site. ^[1]

Today the Manor of Vasaknos is a desired recreational site for weddings, anniversaries, conferences, and other events due to it s unique location and historic atmosphere. The Manor consists of a hotel that sleeps up to 65 persons, a modern restaurant and a conference hall that sits up to 120 people, a cigar and poker room, a pool table, and an outdoor terrace. Guests are also welcome to enjoy a lakeside sauna and visit a brewery where Vasaknu beer is produced. The brewery can additionally accommodate up to 30 persons, and has a common area and a tasting room with stunning views to the brewery and the Manor. ^[2]

References

Coordinates: 55°41′9″N 25°47′29″E / 55.68583°N 25.79139°E / 55.68583; 25.79139