"Pretty gardens........" Palmse by leics

Palmse Travel Guide: 11 reviews and 78 photos

Palmse Manor is a popular place to visit, and worth an hour or two's exploration.

Built towards the end of the 18th century for the von der Pahlen family (although there was a manor on site since at least the 16th century), it reminded me very much of some of the English country houses I've visited. at least the gardens did: the house itself is quite small, with separate 'wings' for the husband and the wife.

I was, to be honest, surprised at the size of the rooms. I would have expected a larger, more decorated style to match the flaunting of wealth indicated by the large heated palm-house, and the landscaped lakes and grounds......but perhaps fortunes improved for the family after the house was initially built.

Ceramic heater

The rooms are furnished appropriately with huge ceramic heaters in many of them. They reminded me of those I saw in Slovenian manor houses/castles...an early form of 'central heating', I suppose. I'm surprised the idea wasn't adopted in the UK, but it definitely wasn't: our aristocracy made do with roaring wood fires until late Victorian times brought the invention of water-filled radiator systems.

More interior photos in the travelogue.

Swan lake

The grounds are lovely (the in-house vodka distillery is now an upmarket hotel, popular for weddings etc), with lakes and woodland paths to explore.

There's a good visitor centre too (and a small transport museum). A nice place to visit.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Very pretty place
Cons:None that I came across
In a nutshell:Manor house and gardens

Last visit to Palmse: Jul 2008
Intro Updated Feb 26, 2011
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Reviews (3)

Storks Off The Beaten Path (2)

I know most Europeans are well-used to storks, but they don't come to the UK. I don't know why, and I haven't been able... more travel advice

Palmse Manor Things to Do (1)

My Palmse page is just about the manor house: I didn't really have time to explore the area. It's a good place to visit... more travel advice

Land Reform monument Off The Beaten Path (2)

As you walk round the lake look up the bank. Tucked away on the edge of the woods is a stone monument to the land... more travel advice

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Travelogues (1)

Written Jul 30, 2008

5 photos

Inside Palmse Manor.......

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Comments (2)

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nickandchris Jan 29, 2011 at 5:44 AM

Those ceramic heaters are something else!! Yes, I agree, it is exciting seeing storks nesting on chimneys in other countries....!! Also nice to see inside a foreign stately house.
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angiebabe Dec 13, 2008 at 6:10 AM

enjoyed see this manor - yes I wouldnt mind finding out as well why no storks in UK - anything to do with the amount of pesticide used here in the past?