Parks by Édouard Andre in Lithuania

Parks by Édouard Andre in Lithuania

(Lentvaris – Trakų Vokė – Užutrakis – Palanga)

A park is a wonderful architectural creation, in which the architect uses natural nature by complimenting it. Materials park architect uses are especially rich: relief, water, sand, rocks, flora and structures. A park is like painting on landscape, which has its own colour pallete changing with every season of the year…

In many countries, parks are among the most visited objects as they always are a phenomenon of civilization and culture for what is very important in human life, which is free time, admiring, enjoying nature. Large or small, for aesthetic or pragmatic purposes, a park is always a value and expensive pleasure.

The park culture developed in Lithuania in the 19^th century, when it became fashionable for nobility to surround manor or palace by a large green oasis for leisure and pleasure. It so happened that count J. Tyszkiewicz invited Edouard André, a famous French dendrologist and one of the most prominent landscape architects of the end of 19^th century, who became known for his parks in Monte Carlo and Montevideo. His father was the gardener of Bourges, France. Édouard André worked as chief gardener of Paris for eight years, won many international competitions, taught at Versailles Gardening School, and his book “The Art of Gardens” written in 1879 is considered the best guide of planning parks and gardens until nowadays. During his lifetime Édouard André designed over 100 private and public parks all over the world, mostly in Europe. The best-known parks of his design are Sefton Park in Liverpool, Luxemburg Gardens, Borghese Villa Park in Rome as well as many public places in Paris.

There are landscape style parks by Édouard André in Lithuania in former estates of counts Tysckiewicz: in Palanga it was laid out in 1899 on the seacoast dunes and ranks among the best in the world; Trakų Vokės Park was established in 1900 in the 23 ha area of wavy relief, next to the main road from Vilnius to Trakai; Lentvaris Park was landscaped on a hilly 12 ha territory; Užutrakis Park was laid out at the end of the 19^th century on the Galvė Lake peninsula, 40 ha area of wavy relief. These parks represent mature period of Édouard André. His parks contain harmoniously composed elements typical of Édouard André works: artificial grottos and rocks creating the impression of mountains, natural water reservoirs and pools, improved by artificial elements, water cascades and waterfalls. English style garden tradition, geometrical forms, adaptation of greenery to local climate and natural objects are typical of Édouard André design. All the four parks are enlisted as landscape architecture heritage objects of international importance.

The Trakų Vokė estate is situated on a steep slope of the Vokė River, it belonged to counts Tysckiewicz since the middle of the 19^th century. Architect L. J. Marconi of Italian origin designed the Neo Classicism style palace, and Édouard André laid out the park. Now there about 20 species of local trees and 30 imported ones (Balsam firs, Canadian poplars and others). The chapel of counts Tysckiewicz was restored in 2016. Now various events take place here, filming of movies.

Count Joseph Tysckiewicz and his son Wladyslaw created Lentvaris estate. Neo Gothic style palace is on an artificial lake surrounded by a lush park formed by Édouard André. Lentvaris Park is a mountain park. The terrain is naturally hilly; thus, the park was designed introducing elements typical of mountains: grottos, waterfalls, wavy paths, rock massifs, even a viaduct over cascading rivulet. Unfortunately, after WWII Lentvaris Park became property of Lentvaris carpet factory, and now this estate belongs to several owners. The park is valued highly by historical parks specialists. It is called a masterpiece, miracle of the past.

The ensemble of Užutrakis manor homestead was created in 1897-1902 on the initiative of count Joseph Tyszkiewicz and his wife, duchess Jadvyga Svetopolk-Četvertinska. Historic style palace designed by architect J. Hus project was built on the shore of Galvė Lake with interiors decorated luxuriously in Louis XVI style and impressive open pavilioned terrace. The famous French architect Édouard André created an original Užutrakis park, which was designed as water park. There was an intricate system of more than 20 pools, interconnected with at least one of the great lakes constructed in Užutrakis. A great variety of trees and grasses remind that Édouard André primarily was a botanist. Today Užutrakis palace and park are open to visitors. Concerts, various events, exhibitions take place there.

The founder of Palanga manor homestead and park is Felix Tyszkiewicz. The cultural value and artistic success of the park was decided not only by the talent of architect Édouard André but by the natural and historical uniqueness of the location as well. Proximity of the sea compliments the beauty and mysteriousness of the park. Today the park covers over 100 ha and frames wonderfully the Neo Renaissance palace designed by F. Schwechten. View of the French style parterres gives an impression that E. André left a part of his French soul in Lithuania…