Baltā mõis, Manor house in Ilguciems district, Riga, Latvia
Baltā mõis is a Baroque-style manor house that stood at the end of Balta Street near Spilve meadows in the Ilguciems district. The original buildings were destroyed in 1944, but the main causeway of the former park still forms part of the street layout.
Hermann Dahl, a state councillor from Saaremaa island, acquired the manor in 1767 from the widow of former Riga mayor Hermann Witte von Nordeck. The property subsequently became an important gathering place for cultural discussions in the region.
The site is connected to the founding of the Society of Latvian Literature, an important moment for local culture. This gathering took place here despite facing opposition and marked a turning point for the region's cultural life.
The site is challenging to explore today as the main buildings no longer exist and only traces of the former layout remain visible. A walk along Balta Street and the surrounding meadows provides a sense of the former scale and location of the property.
The property featured Italian-style terraces and planned gardens that chronicler J.C. Brotze documented in detailed drawings from 1793. These plans offer valuable insight into the horticultural design of the estate that once existed here.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
