Kalkūne Manor Castle

Kalkūne Manor Castle, also known as Kalkūnu muižas pils, is located in Kalkūne Parish, Augšdaugava Municipality. Constructed between 1890 and 1892, the castle was commissioned by August von Oettingen and designed by Wilhelm Neumann, who was the chief architect of Daugavpils from 1878 to 1895. Neumann also designed other Latvian castles and the Riga City Art Museum. The castle's architecture combines medieval, Renaissance, and classical motifs. The asymmetrical structure features towers and roof constructions. The main entrance includes a balcony supported by columns and a staircase with balustrades. Originally, the building was adorned with a figure of Walter von Plettenberg, a master of the Livonian Order. Throughout its history, Kalkūne Manor has been owned by several notable figures. In 1900, it was owned by Count N. Ignatjev, and by 1912, it belonged to V. Korjakin, a member of the State Duma. During World War I, the castle served as a military hospital. After the Latvian agrarian reform in 1920, the manor was nationalized and housed the Grīva infant asylum. In 1962, it was transformed into the Kalkūne Republican Psycho-Neurological Children's Home. Today, the castle's interiors are no longer preserved, and the outbuildings are in poor condition. The facade has also lost some of its original splendor. Despite its current state, Kalkūne Manor Castle remains a significant cultural heritage object in the region.