One of the most beautiful sights of the city of Jurmala is the Kristaps Morberg's holiday complex and botanical garden. This architectural monument is located in Dzintari. It was created in 1883. The holiday complex is a a neo-Gothic example of wooden architecture.
The owner of the dacha was the largest Latvian builder, famous architect and famous philanthropist Kristaps Morberg, who made his fortune on the construction of the Boulevard Ring in Riga.
The appearance of the dacha makes a stunning impression. It is an architectural masterpiece with magnificent stained glass windows, verandas and crenellated towers with weathervanes. What is surprising is that almost no one knows anything about it. That's because because it's located off the busy Jomas Street, where most tourists rest. During the Soviet era, in the building allocated “under the wing” of the state, there was a sanatorium named after Gorky, and in the old cellar there was a popular, at one time, “Balzam-bar”. Nowadays on the place of the bar an impressive brick fence has been built on the site of the bar.
Kristaps Morberg bequeathed his country house to the University of Latvia. Therefore large-scale restoration activities have begun here. At the expense of the state and European funds, about 3 million US dollars were invested in the revival of this amazing architectural monument. Not so long ago the dacha complex was restored. The main building of the dacha, a small gatekeeper's house and a cellar stylised as a castle cellar have almost regained their original appearance and very much improved. It was possible to to restore the historic layout of the garden paths, which seemed to be hopelessly lost.
Now, for a symbolic donation, anyone can see the luxurious Morberg summer house and the surrounding park. Visitors who are interested the identity of the famous millionaire, the history and architecture of the building, will be able to learn about these interesting facts during the tour. It is conducted by students of the University of Latvia. University of Latvia.
Kristaps Morberg bequeathed to the University of Latvia Foundation not only his dacha in Jurmala, but also 9 income-generating properties. Jurmala summer house, but also 9 profitable buildings in Riga, so that the proceeds would be used to support students. A marvellous botanical garden with exotic plants was created here. Many of them are still growing today. Caring for his own greenhouse was Morberg's favourite pastime. And in the cellar. he grew mushrooms. This cellar was later converted into the famous balsamic bar. There was also a wine cellar and a stable.
Kristaps Morberg designed his country house himself. He liked to experiment and incorporate his own ideas into his home furnishings. Well, for example, inside the house, the walls were made of iron to keep the heat in. for longer. And the gutters from the roof were lowered straight down into the cellar, where the rainwater water was collected in a special tank to water your favourite plants. In the rooms you can still see the old wallpaper, some of which is hand-painted. The ceiling in the living room is decorated with story paintings. Exquisite tiled cookers and full-wall stained glass windows are a true work of art.
Of greatest interest to visitors is the personality of Kristaps Morberg. After all the millionaire donated his entire fortune to the University of Latvia for the establishment of scholarships in his name for gifted students.
There are countless architectural monuments in Jurmala, but, without a doubt, this pearl by the sea is beyond competition!
