The story I want to tell in the EU is about a unique place in Latvia, a place steeped in the touch of history, the breath of Europe and the history of the family. And this story tells about Brigene's manor from the Daugavpils region, which is part of both the history of Latvia and the world, as well as about the history of a family at the crossroads of history and time.

What is your cultural heritage?

#HeritageMakers

Cultural heritage is an invisible tool that connects us to previous generations. These are the values that personify our history, our identity, our present and our future. Every historical place in any country has its own unique cultural heritage. But this priceless wealth is the property not only of the country and the people in question, but of all mankind. A huge number of objects of cultural heritage are destroyed as a result of time or human activity – all this causes irreparable damage. Therefore, it is important to respect and protect cultural heritage. Awareness of cultural heritage makes a person more developed and spiritually richer, it moves his heart in search of the truth. It is very important to feel the connection with previous generations, it must be preserved for the common good, because in the era of globalization it helps to remember our individuality, and this understanding could develop mutual respect and animate dialogue between completely different cultures.

The story I want to tell in the EU is about a unique place in Latvia, a place steeped in the touch of history, the breath of Europe and the history of the family. And this story tells about Brigene's manor from the Daugavpils region, which is part of both the history of Latvia and the world, as well as about the history of a family at the crossroads of history and time.

The news about the construction of the Manor of Brigenes starts from 17.by at the end of the century the manor belonged to Baron von Engelhard. To date, the mausoleum, which the owner of the manor Maximilian von Engelhart ordered to build for his deceased first wife Dorothea (1862-1898), has been partially preserved. It is believed that the author of the chapel is the architect Wilhelm Neimanis. The luxurious forged doors of the chapel were made in the Riga locksmith workshop Bergmanis according to sketches by the architect V. Neimans. The facade tiles depict a stylized garland of flowering passionflower, the so-called passion plant - a symbol of 19 feelings.century, which is relatively rarely used in decorative decoration on the territory of Latvia. On the facade of the chapel is written "CETREU BIS in DEN Tod“, which means ”trust until death". The chapel and the park of the time of Romanticism adjacent to it create the atmosphere of an English garden, created with artificial relief – a three-tiered terrace, which closes at the lake, creating a very attractive landscape.

A certain legend is associated with this chapel. Baron Maximilian Engelhart was the owner and heir of the manor of Brigen, one of whose ancestors was very evil and cruel to his people, once killing his maidservant in an eclipse of spirit and hatred. The maid's mother was a witch who imposed a curse on Engelhart's family. The curse said that in future generations the happiest of the Engelharts will not have children, besides, he or she will lose his beloved and feel tremendous pain. Here, after years, Maximilian Engelhart, the successor of the cruel Baron, fell in love with Dorothy, and their feelings were mutual. Knowing the curse of the ancients, Maximilian and Dorothy brought up adopted children, were happy, but once suddenly Dorothy died, probably from a snake bite. Maximilian created a chapel in which Dorothea lay in a glass coffin. Before the first World War, fleeing from the manor of Brigen in Germany, Maximilian took with him his beloved pikes.

Before the first World War, Engelhart was the eldest of the nobility of Ilukste County. The manor was devastated during the First World War, during the Soviet occupation of power. 1919.in the year Engelhart confiscated the manor as a supporter of Bermont.

What happens next with the manor of Brigen? Next comes the story of the continuation of Brigene's life, in which the story of my family was already entwined. 1933./1934. two brothers Pyotr Polikarpovich and Grigory Polikarpovich Mikhailov bought 50 hectares of Brigene land from the Latvian Land Bank, began to live, manage, create a new history. Came the tragic 1949.an . 1949. in 1956 Pyotr Mikhailov with his family and 7 children was repressed and exiled to Siberia, however, enduring hunger, cold, cruelty, 1956.in one year the family returned to their native home. Despite the challenges and difficulties of that time, All the children were educated by Pyotr Mikhailov, and one of the daughters, Yevdokiya Finogeeva, became one of the first oncology surgeons in Latvia.

The fate of the brigene manor spans several centuries, starting from the foundation of the manor, changes of owners, wars, devastation and rebirth.

What happens to the beautiful Brigen these days? Pyotr Mikhailov divided the 25-hectare estate into several equal parts among his 7 children, with the exception of a 6-hectare plot, which includes a chapel, a park, a farm and a residential house. This territory since the nineties belonged to the 7 children in co-ownership, who at the same time united and also divorced. 2020.in the year the owner of the land became 2.grandson of step Yevdokia Finogeeva - a doctor of the third generation. He was able to unite 7 families and in one place managed to preserve the memorial site of his family and the objects of the cultural heritage of the country. On the shoulders of the owner's family is currently an important and important goal - to preserve the historical significance, with dignity and honor to transfer this cultural heritage to future generations.

The Chapel of Brigene is a testimony of selfless love and is also an example of centuries of misery, as evidenced by bullet pits, broken walls and a cellar in which our ancestors hid with young children, counting the days until the end of the war. How many stories about these times were told to us by eighty-nine-year-old Doctor Yevdokia Finogeeva, remembering everything in detail and wiping away tears from time to time.

This story once again confirms that cultural heritage is not the merit of a single people, but sometimes of entire families and peoples. Culture has no borders, because only we are able to preserve such places that carry the history of entire generations. I am proud of the example of my family, the ability to see the most important, the ability to agree, the ability to advance the values of ancestors. This is a positive example for us, young people, forward-looking and able to understand what true values are.

The Manor of Brigen is a heritage of material and spiritual culture, and an example that every person makes a contribution to the world cultural heritage, is able to experience the greatness and honor of the heritage of cultural history – this is also the purpose of the place – the Manor of Brigen.

Many students were attracted by this cultural heritage restoration project Manoir de Brigene, which has been voluntarily carrying out cleaning work in the park area since the year 2019. Also in 2022, the summer project for schoolchildren will include cleaning the territory, as well as eliminating the consequences of hot flashes caused by humans. Our possibilities are limited because the area is 2 hectares, the cleaning work is not speckled. The students of the schools proudly present their project and take the opportunity to participate in the competition, and to realize our point - cleaning the territory of Engelhart Park and improving access to the manor territory for all peoples, we want to know and get closer to the cultural heritage of the people.

To promote this site, a video movie has been created in 4 languages, with which you can freely get acquainted on the Youtube platform:

1.     https://youtu.be/7rXf1eCkhOE

2.     https://youtu.be/S1SRxqDuC04

3.     https://youtu.be/YaqnS_avMEA

4.     https://youtu.be/wWtE3XiYtU0

Cultural heritage is an invisible tool that connects us to previous generations. These are the values that personify our history, our identity, our present and our future. Every historical place in any country has its own unique cultural heritage. But this priceless wealth is the property not only of the country and the people in question, but of all mankind. A huge number of objects of cultural heritage are destroyed as a result of time or human activity – all this causes irreparable damage. Therefore, it is important to respect and protect cultural heritage. Awareness of cultural heritage makes a person more developed and spiritually richer, it moves his heart in search of the truth. It is very important to feel the connection with previous generations, it must be preserved for the common good, because in the era of globalization it helps to remember our individuality, and this understanding could develop mutual respect and animate dialogue between completely different cultures.