In the
depths of North-Eastern Europe, on the sandy shores where Viking ships lay with
Byzantium loads, where wolves still hunt deer in the wilderness, exists a piece
of Neverland. Once upon a time Ķemeri was a famous medical and SPA resort. One
of the most popular resorts of the Russian Empire. Created in 1836 and
surviving two world wars it became lost in history after the USSR fell apart.
Now only mighty ruins of the former sanatoriums in the depths of Ķemeri
National park, and some local villager's houses, remain of the former glory.
In spite of
this, it is still a popular tourist target, and the abandoned park – is one of
the most beautiful spring meeting places in Latvia.
Ķemeri was
not only destroyed in a moment, it also rose in a moment, or that is what it
seemed like.
Until the
end of the 18th century there were deep borderland forests what divided the
Russian Empire from Kingdom of Poland. Here was the famous Dutchy of Courland.
Somewhere in those forests hid two households – Kemmer and Liepmeži. The
original of name “Kemmer” is from the German name “Kemmerer”, which meant –
“Chamberlain”. The origin of “Liepmezi” is Latvian and means “lime tree forest”. The only traces we really
found were archive documents that show that in the last years of the 18th
century, the foresters' households Liepmeži and Kemeri existed in the
neighbourhood. Kemeri now lays somewhere under town of Ķemeri, but we still can
see Liepmeži. Approximately 2 miles away in the forest is placed a small lawn
with some ruins and huge old lime trees. It is all that remains of the former
90 acre foresters' farm.
Nearby
dense bush hides the oldest cemetery of both households. Even many locals don't
know this place and its name: Liepmeži cemetery and Liepmeži forestry.
There is
great reason to think that this place is the oldest in the pair. In long
forgotten times only small and bad roads would carry you through the forests of
Latvia. People were poor and Christianity existed only for Western European
colonists. So the churches were few and almost every large household had their
own cemetery. In Liepmeži cemetery not only the foresters of Liepmeži rest in
peace, but family members of Kemmerer/Kemmer/Ķemers too. It means that this
cemetery existed before the Kemmer household was built.
The last 2
centuries has been full of trouble for this place. Legions of the Great Army,
regiments of the Russian Imperial Army, the German Imperial Army, the Soviet
Army and the Nazi army marched through the yard. Front line trenches in 1WW and
2WW were dug through the fields. We can read in documents who burned down the
house in 1WW. We even found the name of the forester before 1WW. But question:
how old is this place, still remains. We found this place enigmatic enough for
a real expedition.
We know some
facts:
We know
that soil covers a great amount of puzzling remains from previous times in
every yard.
We
desperately need additional information about Kemeri, Liepmezs and their
history.
We know
that we are able not only able to find answers, not only dig up artefacts, but
even more so, we could show everybody that there is real history under their
own lawn, and great stories of glory could be made from this. Stories really
show our strength, pride, glory and uniqueness.
So,
with the help of Grundtvig Lifelong Education Program and support of Kemeri
National Park we launch an expedition at the former Liepmezi manor.
