It all started with an idea. The idea came after a 3×3 camp in the summer of 2011.
Then we became sure that we should buy a piece of Latvia’s land. In January 2012, the idea became real…
Now “Caunītes” is our place where we warmly welcome those who want to enjoy a Latvian atmosphere and good company.
While creating this countryside homestead, our goal is to combine traditional and modern Latvian spirit.
At the moment, the central place is the barn with a bread oven. Most of the activities happen around it, but other buildings are also being improved. This means that every time you visit “Caunītes”, you will see something new…
Jānis and Santa
Programs
“Caunītes” – a rural homestead for Latvian traditions – offers visitors the opportunity to experience a Latvian environment and take part in activities related to nature and seasonal traditions.
Every visit to “Caunītes” is planned in advance, based on the chosen theme.
Tasting
~ 1,5-2 h
- Tasting freshly baked “Caunītes” sourdough bread with homemade hemp butter;
- A short story about the history of the house and the rhythm of the Latvian calendar;
- Enjoying tea and coffee with it;
- Viewing the exhibition about the bread-making process and watching a 6-minute movie about how bread is baked at “Caunītes”;
- The opportunity to purchase freshly baked sourdough bread;
- Grinding grain in a hand mill, embroidering Latvian signs on specially designed tables, moving around in the playground, playing wooden board games;
- A tour of the buildings and territory led by the host and/or hostess (if there is time and interest on the part of the guests).
Starting from 5 Euros per person, but not less than 80 Euros per group.
Optimally up to 20 persons, but within the framework of the short program we have also accepted larger groups of tourists – up to 55 persons.
Workshop
~ 2,5 h
The same content as in the tasting program, but it is supplemented with the opportunity to participate in creative workshops. The topic is agreed in advance, depending on the season and the interests of the visitors.
The following topics are offered for creative workshops:
- Making bird masks, making birds from yarn, felt fabric and paper (usually in spring);
- Making braids with decorations (all year round);
- Sewing grain dolls (usually in autumn);
- Casting beeswax candles (usually in winter);
- Burning wooden coasters (all year round);
- Sewing pincushions with an old Singer sewing machine (all year round);
- Making various decorative items from sea sticks (all year round);
- Making decorations from various natural materials (all year round).
Starting from 8 Euro per person, but not less than 120 Euro per group.
Optimally up to 20 persons.
Full
~ 3-4 h
As part of this program, visitors have the opportunity to prepare and bake their own sourdough bread loaf. All other activities are the same as in the workshop program.
In winter, they have the opportunity to create, decorate, and bake their own stuffed gingerbread
Starting from 200 Euro per group.
Optimally up to 20 persons.
At “Caunītes” it is also possible to attend special programs
Master class on making puzuri
Traditional Latvian buntings made of straws. The programme usually lasts up to 5-6 hours. It should be agreed in advance which specific types of bunting will be chosen and made, and accordingly will be prepared oat straws grown at “Caunītēs” and bunting decoration elements (feathers, alder cones, flax buds, hydrangea petals, thread bouquets) for each person. During such a long lesson a break is planned to enjoy coffee and cakes baked on site. After such a master class, each participant goes home with a bunting they have made themselves.
Price depends on the complexity of the buntings and the amount of oat straw, usually 35-45 Euros per person.
Number of persons: optimally 4-6.
Educational excursions for children and adults about the world of insects along our meadow trails.
Weaving on looms in the “Caunītes” weaving workshop
Making insect houses in the workshop of old woodworking equipment
+371 26352395
Santa Rubene
jscaunites@inbox.lv
SIA “JS Caunītes”
“Caunītes”, Cena Parish, Jelgava Municipality, LV-3018, Latvia
VAT Reg. No.: LV43603069400
Food and Veterinary Service Reg. No.: 100118
SWIFT: HABALV22
IBAN: LV83HABA0551039953114
History
When we started to explore the history of this place, we first found out that for a long time the name of the homestead was “Caunes” (in some documents also written as “Caunas”). Only during Latvia’s last period of independence did it receive its current name, “Caunītes”.
This change happened because there could not be two places with the same name in one parish, so “Caunes” was renamed to “Caunītes”.
When writing about the history of this house, its old name “Caunes” will be used in this section.
The exact time the “Caunes” homestead was first built is not known. Archive documents show that a place with this name already existed here long before the World War I.
Later history is clearer, as it is connected to the nearby Cenas Manor (Zennhof, Zehnhof), which was burned down in the summer of 1906.
In 1902, Count Otto Keyserlingk and Countess Martha Keyserlingk (born Brüggen) (who, according to documents, was the official owner of the Cenas manor), became the owners of the Cena Manor.
In 1920 the Cena manor was sold to Georg Bütte.
In 1921, in accordance with the agrarian reform, the inalienable part of the Cena Manor, covering an area of 50 hectares, was designated and measured directly within the territory of the “Caunes” homestead.
However, the new owner Georg Bütte found that no buildings intact remained there. He wrote a request to the Minister of Agriculture to indicate the inalienable part of the Cena Manor in another place – with buildings, but his request was denied. He later requested to increase the area of the plot by 15 hectares from state forest, but this request was also denied.
In 1924, this part of the former manor was purchased by Pauls Bendrups (born in 1887 in Līvbērze parish – died in 1967 in Australia).
At that time, he was a well-known public figure in Jelgava. From 1920, he was the head of the Jelgava School for the Deaf. After May 15, 1934, he also became a member of the Jelgava city council and was awarded by the Order of the Three Stars.
Pauls Bendrups with his family lived in Jelgava and managed the “Caunes” property only partly, renting out most of it.
It is clear that all buildings of the “Caunes” homestead were built or rebuilt during his time – after 1924. Now it is difficult to determine whether any building was renovated at that time. The oak trees along the driveway were most likely planted during this period as well and now may be over 90 years old.
During the Soviet period, one of the last two tenants continued to live here. Later, the property changed owners two more times.
At the beginning of 2012, a small part of the former manor land became our property — as the countryside homestead named “Caunītes”.
Now it is our turn to restore, develop, and care for this place, so that it can bring joy to both – us and our visitors.
All restoration and construction work since 2012 has been documented in photographs, which visitors can see during their visit.
Historical items found during construction are collected and preserved. Visitors who are interested in history can also explore copies of documents from the Latvian National Archives about the manor, the “Caunes” homestead, and its former owners.
See you soon!
We offer to visit “Caunīšu” barn virtually
Nearby sightseeing farms and natural attractions in Cenu parish, Jelgava region
Sightseeing farms
Goat farm “Līcīši”
Address: “Līcīši”, Cenu parish, Jelgava region, contacts: 26537993, licisi@gmail.com, www.licisi.lv.
By prior registration.
“Mazmušķi horses”
Address: “Mazmušķi”, Cenu parish, Jelgava region, contacts: 29140535, 29552446, kristina.rozite@inbox.lv
By prior registration.
Stud Farm “Princis”
Address: Brankas, Cenu parish, Jelgava region, contacts: 26563936, 20206039, lp24@inbox.lv
Mini Zoo “Lauku sēta” /Farmstead/
Address: Brankas, Cenu parish, Jelgava region, contacts: 27171712, zoolaukuseta@inbox.lv, www.zoolaukuseta.lv
“Ķiploku pasaule” /Garlic World/
Address: “Annas”, Uzvaras līdums, Olaine parish (until 2016 – Cenu parish, Jelgava region), contacts: 29206015, kiplokupasaule@gmail.com, www.kiplokupasaule.lv
By prior registration.
Natural objects, memorial sites
French Fortifications (56.70170128948, 23.79104414912)
Located near “Silgrauži”. The fortifications were built by Napoleon’s troops in 1812. Overgrown, difficult to find.
French Fortifications “Blukas” (56.705172666018, 23.782629960868)
French Fortifications “Silagrauži” (56.702350588678, 23.787186348864)
Mazsilgrauži branched pine (56.700939, 23.791709)
Circumference 4.64 m (2009, at a measurement height of 0.9 m, which is the narrowest point up to a height of 1.3 m). This wonderful, branched pine is located on the left side of the Jelgava-Riga highway (Ozolnieki, Aizupes) on the road to the Mazsilgrauži farmstead, approximately 1 km from the highway.
The Misleading Mazsilgrauži Branched Pine (56.699423, 23.793769)
Circumference 3.08 m (2009, at a measurement height of 0.35 m). Located near the Mazsilgrauži branched pine. If you come from the highway, the Misleading Branched Pine can be seen first.
Oak “Liepiņi” (56.710233, 23.785486)
Circumference 4.41 m (2009).
Juniper of the Danči bog (56.726185, 23.729439)
Circumference 0.57 m (2011).
Scots pine (56.709017, 23.806858)
Circumference 2.57 m (2009, circumference measured at the ground 3.87 m).
Scots pine (56.713115, 23.821278)
Circumference 2.52 m (2009).
Cena Manor Barons’ Cemetery (56.715799517072, 23.792501689767)
Mazsilgrauži Ancient Cemetery (56.701888908374, 23.790422525221)
Information about large trees will be supplemented with both newly found large trees and updated measurements.