The Writers’ Park of Spāre Manor, started in the early twentieth century and now restored, is a unique natural and cultural monument that preserves the touch and memory of its planters – well-known Latvian writers.

The beginnings of the Writers’ Park date back to the 4th of 1930. On May 4, 2005, when the literati of the so-called Trauksminieks group – Aleksandrs Čaks – visited Spāre Manor, where an elementary school had been established at that time, at the invitation of the school heads Kārlis and Alvīne Skalbergs, Arvīds Grigulis, Jānis Grots, Jānis Plaudis, Emīls Skujenieks, Austra Skujiņa, Jānis Trimda, Ādolfs Talcis, Valdis Luks, Arvīds Borincs, Pāvils Vīlips – and the actress Elvīra Bramberga. After their visit, each of them planted a tree here.

After 30 years, Arvīds Grigulis continued this tradition by planting another tree, and his example was followed by poets Valdis Lukss, Laimonis Vāczemnieks and Jānis Plotnieks.

2014On 1 September 2014, on the initiative of Mārīte Rukmane, a teacher at the Spāre boarding school, the restoration of the Writers’ Park and the addition of new plantings began, and continues to this day. The first tree planted was a lime tree in memory of Melānija Vanaga. The linden avenue leading to the park has been restored, tree identification signs have been installed and a plaque with a plan of the park drawn by the alarmists and a hymn composed by them. The ever-growing Alexander Čaks Oak has been joined by trees planted by well-known poets and writers such as Knuts Skujenieks, Jānis Rokpelnis, Edvīns Raups, Inga Ābele, Roalds Dobrovenskis, Velta Kaltiņa, Arnolds Auziņš, Māra Cielēna, Lija Brīdaka, Māra Svīre, Valdis Rūmnieks, Valdis Atāls and others. Among the species and varieties of trees in the park are yew, mourning willow, beech, black pine, red elm, red oak and many others.

The Writers’ Park hosts literary and recreational events and inspires creative people.

• Ample parking is available.
• Wheelchair accessible
• Picnic/rest area available
• Pets welcome
• Free admission anytime
• Guided tours by arrangement
• The most glorious time from June to September

Photos from Cēsis TIC archives.