ABOUT PASTARIŅŠ' MUSEUM

Pastariņš’ Museum is dedicated to the writer Ernests Birznieks-Upītis (1871–1960), who was called Pastariņš in childhood. The Bisnieki farmstead, where the writer was born, is more than 400 years old and has changed beyond recognition over time. The historical buildings have been restored to reflect the situation in the mid-20th century, when the farmstead was managed by the writer’s brother Kārlis Birznieks (1864–1942).

The restored dwelling house gives the opportunity to get to know the Birznieki family, as well as the life and creative work of the writer. The museum exhibits original objects once owned by the writer, including his desk with a chair and inkpot. The expositions inside the restored buildings – the barn (1894), shallow-litter cowshed (1896), bathhouse/grain kiln (around 1910), deep-litter cowshed and carthouse (1830) – follow the motifs of the writer’s stories.

In the garden, you will find a miniature model of the Bisnieki farmstead as it looked in the writer’s childhood. The houses are just big enough for the wooden story characters. The museum is a great place for family excursions and school field trips. The programmes utilise games and play to explore the stories, traditional jobs and culinary heritage, including baking bread in a genuine bread oven.

Newlyweds are especially welcome here to celebrate according to Latvian traditions. The museum traditionally celebrates solstices, performs baptisms and offers the Journey in Time programme.