Until the end of the 14th century this place was a property of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. There was a wooden manor even in the 13th century. In 1387 Lithuanian Grand Duke and King of PolandJogaila, on occasion of accepting Christianity, donated this place to Vilnius' Episcopate. Verkiai served as the permanent summer residence of Vilnius bishops until the end of the 18th century.
Central palace drawn before its demolition
Verkiai Palace became widely known after bishop Ignacy Jakub Massalski took over it in 1780. He hired two famous architects, Marcin Knackfus and Laurynas Gucevičius, to rebuild the palace in the Neoclassical style. The general plan and maintenance buildings were designed by Marcin Knackfus. The main palace building, the stables and several other buildings were designed by Gucevičius. The building was called "the Versailles of Vilnius". The palace had a little theatre, large library, and a small gun museum and was surrounded by a park.
The palace was severely damaged during the Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Eventually, the central building of the palace was pulled down on the order of a new owner, prince Ludwig Wittgenstein, who bought Verkiai in 1839. He also ordered restructuring the other buildings and the east wing office house assumed the role of the palace since the 1840s. It is attested that the first known photographs in present-day Lithuania were taken there in 1839, when Karol Podczaszyński made a daguerreotype of the palace which was intended to be rebuilt.[1] The images have not survived. In 1918, during the existence of the short-lived Kingdom of Lithuania, the Palace was considered for being an official residence to the newly King-elect of Lithuania, Wilhelm von Urach (Mindaugas II).
After World War II, the remaining palace buildings were used as educational institutions and an art museum. Since 1960 the ensemble belongs to the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany. Verkiai Palace complex is an important cultural and historical landmark in Verkiai Regional Park.
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Verkiai Palace.
^(in Lithuanian) Several photographs of Vilnius' constructions of the 1860s
External linksedit
Description on Heritage.lt (in Lithuanian)
Verkiai Regional Park
November 23, 2023
verkiai, palace, lithuanian, verkių, rūmai, 18th, century, neoclassical, mansion, verkiai, vilnius, lithuania, verkių, rūmai, lithuanian, current, façade, façade, 1904, knights, hallmap, location, basic, informationgeneral, informationarchitectural, styleneocl. Verkiai Palace Lithuanian Verkiu rumai is an 18th century neoclassical mansion in Verkiai Vilnius Lithuania Verkiai PalaceVerkiu rumai Lithuanian Current facade Facade of 1904 Knights HallMap location and basic informationGeneral informationArchitectural styleNeoclassicismLocationVerkiai Vilnius LithuaniaCoordinates54 26 43 N 25 10 24 E 54 4452 N 25 1733 E 54 4452 25 1733Construction started14th century 14th century OwnerGovernment of LithuaniaWebsitewww wbr verkiai wbr lt wbr enHistory editUntil the end of the 14th century this place was a property of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania There was a wooden manor even in the 13th century In 1387 Lithuanian Grand Duke and King of Poland Jogaila on occasion of accepting Christianity donated this place to Vilnius Episcopate Verkiai served as the permanent summer residence of Vilnius bishops until the end of the 18th century nbsp Central palace drawn before its demolitionVerkiai Palace became widely known after bishop Ignacy Jakub Massalski took over it in 1780 He hired two famous architects Marcin Knackfus and Laurynas Gucevicius to rebuild the palace in the Neoclassical style The general plan and maintenance buildings were designed by Marcin Knackfus The main palace building the stables and several other buildings were designed by Gucevicius The building was called the Versailles of Vilnius The palace had a little theatre large library and a small gun museum and was surrounded by a park nbsp Verkiai Palace an 1877 drawing by Napoleon OrdaThe palace was severely damaged during the Napoleon s invasion of Russia Eventually the central building of the palace was pulled down on the order of a new owner prince Ludwig Wittgenstein who bought Verkiai in 1839 He also ordered restructuring the other buildings and the east wing office house assumed the role of the palace since the 1840s It is attested that the first known photographs in present day Lithuania were taken there in 1839 when Karol Podczaszynski made a daguerreotype of the palace which was intended to be rebuilt 1 The images have not survived In 1918 during the existence of the short lived Kingdom of Lithuania the Palace was considered for being an official residence to the newly King elect of Lithuania Wilhelm von Urach Mindaugas II After World War II the remaining palace buildings were used as educational institutions and an art museum Since 1960 the ensemble belongs to the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany Verkiai Palace complex is an important cultural and historical landmark in Verkiai Regional Park References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Verkiai Palace in Lithuanian Several photographs of Vilnius constructions of the 1860sExternal links editDescription on Heritage lt in Lithuanian Verkiai Regional Park Institute of Botany Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Verkiai Palace amp oldid 1144735632, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
