Gaujiena invites visitors to Jāzeps Vītols memorial museum and musical park trail

Smiltene Municipality in northern Latvia is continuing its tourism series “7 places where the stories of Smiltene Municipality are kept”. The fifth story invites readers to Gaujiena, where the memorial museum “Anniņas” of Latvian composer Jāzeps Vītols (1863–1948) is located, along with the historic Gaujiena manor and its park with a music trail. Vītols was the founder and first rector of the Latvian Conservatory, and he himself called Gaujiena his paradise.

The composer's summer home

In 1922 the Latvian state granted Vītols part of the former Gaujiena manor park in recognition of his special merits. The minutes of the Valka county land management committee meeting of 28 November 1922 stressed that the property's boundaries should include as many “natural wonders” as possible, since the land was intended mainly for the professor's rest rather than for farming.

The manor's former two-storey wooden brewer's house became Vītols's summer residence. He spent holidays and leave there until autumn 1944, when he was forced to leave Latvia. Today “Anniņas” houses a museum with materials on the composer's life and work, a permanent exhibition and temporary displays. A museum specialist tells visitors about Vītols as a musician, teacher and person.

The park and music trail

The manor buildings and park are an important part of Gaujiena's cultural and historical landscape. Historical facts are provided on information boards. The park's music trail has eight stops with outdoor instruments that visitors can try themselves. It is suitable for families with children and for other visitors.

Vītols Festival

Every summer Gaujiena hosts the Vītols Festival, which brings together musicians, choirs and music lovers from across Latvia. Participants of the children's and youth music camp “Vītolēni” perform on the terraces of “Anniņas”, while at the Night Concert music is played from the museum's balconies. Adult amateur choirs also take part, jointly honouring the composer on his birthday.

Visiting

Picnic areas have been set up nearby. The municipality says Gaujiena is worth more than an hour of a visitor's time. The museum, in Gaujiena parish, is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays and Sundays. Group tours must be booked in advance by phone on +371 28386923.