Dikli Civil Parish

Dikli - the Cradle of Latvian Song Festival
Excursions in Dikli neighbourhood (tel. 64281162)

For a long time Dikli estate was owned by the Palen family. The first recorded data about this manor house is from the beginning of the 15th century, when it belonged to Gotsalk fon Palen. Later, it was a feudal land of Riga episcopacy and it was rented to Thomas Reze who sold it to Henrich Veipte. In 1456 together with other land properties, in total 30 acres, he sold it to Detlef fon Palen for 5200 Riga old marks.
After Palen`s death in 1490 the property was inherited by his son Georg. It is known that in 1631 Dikli were owned by his descendant Jacob fon der Palen. In the same year on June 7, Swedish king Gustav Adolf alloted him also Viki parish, earlier called Vecmuiza and since 1517 it was owned by Reinhold fon Palen who had got it as a present from archbishop Kaspars, but whose descandants brothers Georg and Fabian fon der Palen had sold it to their brother-in-law Reinhold Gothauzen, whose name in the twenties and thirties of the 20th century could still be traced in Grotuzi house name in Dikli parish. On the 28th of October, 1722, fon der Paleni family sold Dikli estate together with Viki parish for 8000 state thalers to the count Karlis Gustav Levenvolde. After his death the property was inherited by his widow Sarlote, born fon Rozena.
In 1760 she sold the castle for 35 000 Albert`s thalers to Margareta fon Tizenhauzena born fon Sternfelta. After her death the palace became the property of her son, district judge Georg Johan fon Tizenhauzens who left it to his son Georg Fabian fon Tizenhauzens. In 1903, his son Manfred became the owner of the estate, later the estate was inhereted by his son Manfred Wolf, but in 1919 after his death a widow Irena Volfa, born fon Mola and daughter baroness Eva Volfa became the owners of the property.
Several pieces of art related to owners of Dikli estate, can be found in Dikli Lutheran church. A golden silver cup made in 1636 with carved coats of arms of Ungern and Palen families was presented to Dikli parish by J.fon der Palen. These coats of arms could be traced back to Jacob fon Palen, the owner of Dikli palace, married to Ann fon Ungern from Asote in 1633. Ann Palena-Ungerna passed away in 1675 and the upper part of her tombstone was built into the wall of the altar part of Dikli Lutheran church. It is in the form of a semi-circle depicting a figure of a woman lying on a pillow. It is an outstanding piece of sculpture work of mannerism period.
The present building of Dikli palace was built in 1896, when it was owned by baron fon Volf. A typical neo-baroque building was created with mansard roofs in the central and side parts. The other important part of Dikli estate ensemble is a granary which is older than the palace and was built at the end of the 18th century in the late classicism style. The ensemble of buildings is surrounded by a beautiful park, the territory of which is about 20 hectars.There is a pond to the South of the palace, and some stories say that the pond has an oak tree floor. Right behind the pond Mazbriede river (earlier called Pale or Dikli river)takes its start, with a picturesque park on its banks. In the 60ies of the 20th century it was found that about 20 different exotic trees grow in the park. Among them such species as Abies balsamea, Juglans cineres, Populus beroliensis, Pseudotsuga meziensii and others, about 30 - 40 years old at that time.
This is one of the palaces in Vidzeme where the original interior still can be seen, especially on the ground floor - there you can see a hall with a fire place (made by company ''Celms and Bems'') and a couple of tile ovens, central stairs, parquet and other elements. In 1998 Dikli estate house was granted the status of a cultural monument of state importance ( Decree by the Ministry of Culture 128A, October 28). An oak tree alley leads directly to the wooden church built in 1772. In 1848 it was rebuilt as a stone building, but the shape was kept the same. From 1857 to 1867 J. Neikens was a pastor in this church. The church has a magnificent altar (1698) and a pulpet (1699) made by J.D. Strauss, Riga sculptor, who has also worked in Riga St. Peter`s church and Ugale church. From the 30ies to the 40ies of the 18th century the pulpet was improved by A.H. Conciuss who worked in Estonia. There is a story that in the 18th century not far from the church the Swedes dug an oak tree barrel with gold and two centuries later it was found and a successful entrepreneurship was started.
Most recent development: a SPA complex opened in the palace. Dikli palace is an architectural monument of state importance.
Recent development: in 2008 the renovated estate barn housing a big concert and exhibition hall was opened.
Tours of the palace 0.7 Ls for a person
Exhibitions 0.5 Ls for a person
Tours and exhibitions 1.50 Ls for a person
Tel. : 64207480 www.diklupils.lv

Dikli church has unique cultural value forVidzeme. The church was mentioned first in 1630/31. It was a very modest clay building with a straw roof. The churh was a burial place for Palen family. There is a Palen and Steinberg coat of arms with a text in the upper left corner, and Ungern and Veisman coat of arms with a text in the upper right corner. The church was rebuilt in 1722 (wooden and clay construction) and in 1848 (stone walls and tile roof).
In 1698 an altar was presented to the church by Henrich Gustav fon Budenbrock and his wife Kunigunde Gertrud fon Strika. On the both sides of the altar are decorations with Budenbrock and Strick coats of arms. A year later, in 1699 a pulpet with wood carvings was presented to the church by Karl Fridrich fon Mengden, a Swedish army lieutenant and the owner of Ozolmuiza (Lappier) and his wife Helen Renata fon Taube. The roof of the pulpet is trimmed by coats of arms of Mengdems and Taube.
The altar and the pulpet from the old church have survived and today can be seen in the new church. The altar and the pulpet were made in Riga sculpture workshop by Johan Daniel Shauss and Johan Valentin Rabe.
The first organ was built by a German Karl Bitner in 1858. The organ used now was built by a Latvian Janis Durejs from Valmiera in 1934 and the work cost 5620 Ls. The money was donated by local Ladies' committee. In 1988 the organ was restored. 1500 Ls for the restoration of the organ was donated by Millija Lusina Howe, a former Dikli resident from the USA. The organ was restored by Juris Jerums. The confirmation service of the restored organ was led by Janis Vanags. As honour guests, the President of Latvia Guntis Ulmanis and his spouse Aina Ulmane attended the ceremony.
Several outstanding choirs have performed in Dikli church:
1999 during European Heritage days: a sacred music concert with the youth choir ''Konsonanse" led by Ilze Krumina, organ was played by Zenons Minchenko. European blue flag was presented to the church.
2002: there was a Gratitude service marking the 280th anniversary of the church. The service was led by Janis Vanags and Janis Vasks. Participants: youth ensemble ‘' Mes" by Larisa Stivrina, brass band from Dikli elementary school conducted by Martin Birnis, men`s choir ‘' Baltie Berzi" by Inga Zirne.
2004: men`s choir ‘' Imanta'' (conducted by Irena Zelca) and a men`s choir ''Gaudeamus ‘'(conducted by Ivars Cinkuss), a united men`s choir from all Latvia, marking the 140th anniversary since the first Song festival in Dikli.
The first Song festival was organized by Juris Neikens on the Whitsunday, 1864. Juris Neikens served in Dikli church from 1857 to 1867 (1826 -1868). He is buried in Umurga cemetery.
From 1913 to 1937 August Sheurman served in Dikli church (1886 -1937). In 1917 he was wounded and thrown in the hole by bolsheviks, and saved by passing by nurse. From 1937 to1949 Janis Dzindzi served in the church. In 1949 he was exiled to Sibiria, and after returning didn`t serve in Dikli church. All the archives of the church were destroyed. During the Soviet times the church was taken care of by Lonija Auzenberga, who did it as voluntary work, and, as a result, the church didn`t suffer very much.
From 1995 to 2005 the Dean of Valmiera district Janis Vasks served in the church.
The services take place in the church twice a month.There is also christening, confirmation and wedding.
It`s possible to take a tour of the church, booking in advance.
Tel. : 4200326, 4241594,
mob. tel.: 8367890, 6120257

The outstanding event - the first Song festival in 1864 took place at Neiken`s hill, organized by Juris Neikens, a writer, a teacher and an education organizator. The singers from Mazsalaca, Rujiena, Straupe, Limbazi and Lielsalaca also took place. This was the beginning of the first Song Festival of Latvia in Riga, 1873. In 1973, marking the 100th anniversary of the first Song festival, a stone with a memorial plaque was unveiled at the foot of Neiken`s hill. When the 120th anniversary was celebrated in 1984, the plaque was changed. The author is A. Zelcs. There is a nice open air stage popular with local people and guests at the foot of the hill.

The origins of Dikli start near Grebu castle mound and Bloda hill. Nowadays the castle mound has become a sacred place for Talava community of believers worshiping ancient Latvian gods. In 1993 sculptor Bertulis Buls carved a sculpture ‘'Ganins" (Shepherd). The castle mound is located about 10 km from the centre of Dikli. It was discovered in 1927 and measured by E. Brastins. It is a round hill, 10 metres high with fortified sides. There is a path up to the hill along the flatest Southern slope. Bloda hill is 50 metres to the North. A couple of mountains is an evidence that there was a kind of centre. Both hills are in the territory of the ancient Libyan land Metsepole. Now it is a sacred place for Talava community of believers in ancient Gods. It is kept in good order. Margers Grins, the leader of Latvian community of worshipers of ancient Gods, has confirmed a stone with a carved initial number.

It plays an important role in Latvian history of culture. The museum exhibits can be seen on the first floor of the local municipality building. It was opened in June, 1984, marking the 120th anniversary of Dikli Song festival.The museum reflects the development of Latvian culture and education in the 19th century, and the origins of choir singing in Latvia: going from the very first Song festival in Dikli in 1864 to the Song Festival in Riga in 1873. You will find information about choir-singing tradition in Valmiera and Dikli from those times till nowadays.

This building is famous for being the location of the first theatre performance in Latvian language in 1818. It was a very sensational fact that a 17 years old servant Janis Peitans translated ''The Robbers", a play by Schiller, and staged the play. He invited the servants from the estate to be the actors in the performance. The original version of the play is in the library of the Academy of Sciences of Latvia. Later the building housed an orphanage, a tuberculosis sanatorium and a traumatology hospital. Now it is a private property.

Paths for walks, wooden figures of Vik`s fairy-tale heroes, a play ground, picnic places. An excursion guided by Viks is also possible. The purpose of Vik`s fairy-tale park is to promote creative thought in children and to acquaint them with literature that is written specially for them. This is an alternative to technology-produced visual entertainment that occupies a young persons' leisure time. Vik`s fairy-tale characters have fascinated both children and adults since the 1980ies. Viks (Viktors Kalnins) is the vinner of several literary prizes, but his book ‘' Zemūdens Bara Lielā Diena" in 1987 received a special recognition. Latvia`s first full-length animated film is based on this work and was shown in the United States. In Vik`s fairy-tale park you can enjoy wooden sculptures of fairy-tale heroes by sculptors brothers Rurani and after walks in the park the visitors can have a picnic in a specially aranged place next to the park, or children can play in the playground. There are 28 fairy-tale heroes in the park: Ness and Nessie, Mud Dwarf and the Changaroo, one of the most loved fairy-tale hero, and others live there.

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