The Territory
Farmsteads in the area of South Kurzeme are characterised by two courtyards: in the middle – a residential house, opposite of which – a cattle feedlot, between both buildings – a work or dirty yard.
Between the dwelling house and adjacently built barn – a clean yard full of bright flowers and shrubs. Not very fire-prone bathhouse is located at a distance. Several dozen hectares of land belonged to the farmstead.
Teritorija
Dienvidkurzemes sētām raksturīgi divi pagalmi: vidū dzīvojamā māja, tai iepretim lopu laidars, starp abām ēkām darba jeb netīrais pgalms.
Starp dzīvojamo māju un tai līdzās celto klēti – tīrais pagalms ar košuma krūmiem un puķēm. Ugunsnedrošā pirts novietota tālāk. Sētai piederēja vairāki desmiti ha zemes.
Kurzeme Peasant's Homestead – Cattle Yard
The inhabitants of Kurzeme used to combine a cattle shed, livestock, feeding shed, cart-house and servant’s barn under the same roof. In the 19th century this farm had 5 horses, 12 cows, 20 sheep and 6 pigs.
At present, a working cart, two-wheel cart, sleds and sleighs employed by Kurzeme inhabitants may be viewed in a cart-house.
Massive fence from a tree trunk closes the entrance of the cattle yard, separates from the rest of the buildings and makes a courtyard, in which the stock was held during warm summer nights.
Cattle yard’s place of origin is Rucava, “Vecķērves”; and it was built in ~ 1850. Re-erected in the museum in 2004.
Kurzemes Zemnieka Sēta – Laidars
Kurzemnieki zem viena jumta mēdza apvienot kūtis visiem lopiem, šķūņus lopu barībai, ratnīcu, pelavnieku un kalpu klētis. 19.gs. sētā bija 5 zirgi, 12 liellopi, 20 aitas un 6 cūkas.
Patlaban ratnīcā var apskatīt kurzemnieku darba ratus, divričus, ragavas un kamanas.
Masīvs guļkoku – saukts bulverķa – žogs noslēdz laidara pakavu, atdala no pārējām sētas ēkām un veido pagalmu, kurā lopus turēja siltajās vasaras naktīs.
Laidars bija atvests no bijušas Grobiņas apriņķa, Rucavas pagasta, "Vecķērves"; uzcelts ~ 1850. gadā. Muzejā uzstādīts 2004. gadā.
Kurzeme Peasant's Homestead – Dwelling House
The type of construction, the layout and the outer appearance of the building is characteristic of the South West Kurzeme (Curland) rural wooden architecture of those days, up to the beginning of the 20th century.
In the centre of the house there is a walk-through room with a wrapper smokestack, a heated room for a host family on one side, unheated chamber for living in summer on another side, and the pantry-milling room.
In the 19th century the host family, one of two service families and unmarried single workers lived here – in total 15-20 people of different ages.
Dwelling House’s place of origin is Rucava, “Vecķērves”; and it was built in ~ 1840-1850. Re-erected in the museum in 2002.
Kurzemes Zemnieka Sēta – Dzīvojamā Ēka
Ēkas būvveids, plānojums un ārējais veidols raksturīgs Dienvidrietumu Kurzemes tautas celtbiecībai līdz pat 20. gs. Sākumam.
Mājas vidū caurstaigājams nams ar apvalkdūmeni, vienā pusē apkurināma istaba saimnieka ģimenei, otrā – neapkurināms kambaris dzīvošanai vasarā un pieliekamais – maltuve.
19. gs. te dzīvoja saimnieka ģimene, viena vai divas kalpu ģimenes un neprecēti darbinieki – kopā 15-20 dažāda vecuma ļaudis.
Ēka bija atvesta no bijušas Grobiņas apriņķa, Rucavas pagasta, "Vecķērves"; uzcelta ~ 1840.-1850. gadā. Muzejā uzstādīta 2002. gadā.
Kurzeme Peasant's Homestead – Granary
Adorned with a porch, decorated pillars and doors the granary presents a building art monument typical for Kurzeme people.
In a grain granary there were storage containers for cereals, meat, honey, fat and other products, which were stored in jars and vats.
Clothing, fabric, canvas, cloth and yarns were stored in chests and cabinets of the clothes storage. In summer it also served for living.
When this granary was demolished, in its corners there were rowan cross and Swedish coin from 1730 1st era that was hacked into four pieces. People believed that dark spirits and thieves are afraid of the tree of light – the sign of rowan and juniper cross. The crosses drawn with the blood of rooster on the door were also believed to protect the building from the fire and envious eye.
Granary’s place of origin is Kuldīga, “Dižlīķi”; and it was built in ~ 1767. Re-erected in the museum in 1932.
Kurzemes Zemnieka Sēta – Klēts
Ar grezno lieveni, rotātiem stabiem un durvīm klēts ir raksturīgs Kurzemes tautas būvmākslas piemineklis.
Labības klētī ir apcirkņi labībai, tīnēs un vienkočos glabāja gaļu, medu, taukus un citus productus.
Drēbju klētī, pūra lādēs un skapjos glabājas apģerbi, audekli, vadmala, dzijas. Vasarās te arī dzīvoja.
Klēti nojaucot, pamatnīcas stūros (pakšos) atrada pīlādža krustiņu un zviedru 1730. g. 1 ēras monētu sacirstu četrās daļās. Cilvēki ticēja, ka tumsas gari un zagļi baidās no gaismas koku – pīlādža un kadiķa “krusta” zīmes (kadiķam sērmokšļam krustiņš ogu galiņā). Arī uz durvīm ar gaiļa asinīm uzvilktajiem krustiem vajadzēja pasargāt ēku no ugunsgrēka un skauģa acs.
Klēts bija atvesta no bijušas Kuldīgas apriņķa, Kuldīgas pagasta, "Dižlīķi"; uzcelta ~ 1767. gadā. Muzejā uzstādīta 1932. gadā.
Kurzeme Peasant's Homestead – Bathhouse
The structure consists of three divisions: small entrance passage or anteroom, dressing room and bathing chamber with boulder fireplace and sweating bench. Water in the tub was heated by immersing hot stones in it. The smoke was let off through the door and small window.
Saturdays were generally bath days. Sweating happened on the bench with the help of a switch of green birch twigs. Babies were delivered and maladies treated also in the bathhouse.
Bathhouse’s place of origin is parish Nīca, Liepāja district, “Spirēni”; and it was built in ~ 1862. Re-erected in the museum in 1945.
Kurzemes Zemnieka Sēta – Pirts
Pirtij ir trīs telpas: priekšnams – vējtveris, ģērbtuve un mazgāšanās telpa ar krautu laukakmeņu krāsni un lāvu. Ūdeni sildīja baļļā, iemetot sakarsētus akmeņus. Dūmus laida caur durvīm un lodziņu.
Sestdienas parasti bija pirtsdienas. Pērās uz lāvas ar lapainu bērzu zaru slotu. Pirtī arī laida pasaulē bērnus un ārstēja kaites.
Pirts bija atvesta no bijušas Liepājas apriņķa, Nīcas pagasta, “Spirēni”; uzcelta ~ 1862. gadā. Muzejā uzstādīta 1945. gadā.