Basic HTML Version
The interior exhibition
“The old residence of the
Turaida estate`s governor”
The foyer
The old house of the estate’s governor can be entered
via a door in the north facade. The foyer was once
used by the residents of the home and by others who
had business with the governor. There were simple
wooden hangers for large and heavy coats and other
overcoats worn during cold weather.
Wealthy homes in the early 19th century were lighted
with candles that were put in various candlesticks,
candelabras and lanterns. Particularly ornate homes
had chandeliers. Petroleum lamps were later used, but
many rooms remained in semi-darkness, particularly
during the winter.
Under the stairs, where closed “broom chambers” were
often kept, one can see the original wall with impres-
sions of various work on finishing or restoring the area.
One can see where the oldest steps were, and there are
other signs of times gone by.
The ceiling in the deeper part of the foyer is the so-called
“triplet” ceiling that was installed during the building
was constructed. This is the most complicated type of
the two types of “triplet” ceilings in the building, with
boards fastened to the beams. The wooden staircase is
the decorative accent of the room, and its railings are
decorated with turned poles. The stairs were installed
in the late 19th or early 20th century to replace an
older one that dated back to the original construction
of the structure.
The upper part of the door has a window that allows
sunlight to flow into the foyer. To the left and right
of the entrance are single-panel doors. These are
two of the five original doors that have existed at the
house since the very beginning. Under the stairs is a
board floor which dates back to when the stairs were
reinstalled.
The “black kitchen”
The chimney which can be seen from the foyer is a
so-called mantel chimney, which is massive square
structure made of fieldstones and bricks. It is funnel
shaped and stretches all the way up to the attic and
then the roof. The interior of this chimney was used
as an archaic kitchen which was used for centuries in
Latvia in impressive urban buildings, at estates, and in
simple log homes in which farmers lived.
TURAIDAS MUIŽA
Fragments of original beams in the old residential house of the
governor, early 19th century
A black kitchen in a mantel chimney
127
HE TURAIDA ESTATE