Although Mr. Jonas Žurauskis—who commissioned the construction of this massive, nearly 900-square-meter residence—was notorious for his stern character and cruel treatment of his staff, he did not build separate outbuildings for them; instead, he housed them in the eastern wing. The large room served as both a dining and a rest area for the servants. Today, only wooden shelves remain on the inner wall.

Ornate double doors lead to the maids’ living quarters, situated in rooms facing the road. These rooms are interconnected. The most valuable surviving feature is a turquoise-colored tiled stove—a rarity in Lithuania—adorned with serrated ornamentation. Brass fittings reinforcing the corners of the tiles also contribute to the decorative design; such details are a rare sight.

The master housed the male servants on the other side of the wing. While they were responsible for stoking the stoves, access to the maids’ quarters was impossible, as there were no connecting doors between the rooms…

A bread oven dominates the manor’s kitchen. Its coziest feature is a designated spot for resting in the warmth. Beside the bread oven—which includes two openings for pots—there are two additional stoves for cooking. There is an abundance of kitchen utensils (cast-iron pots, earthenware vessels, sieves, butter churns, wooden troughs, mortars, pokers, and pot holders—one even featuring wheels!), bread peels, shoulder yokes, threshing flails, and even a rake standing in the corner. You will also find a small beer barrel, huge wine bottles, and a honey extractor (the manor had a large apiary). In the master’s corner, there are horse collars awaiting repair, a basket mid-weave, and a two-man crosscut saw. You will even find a booklet on the table offering advice on how to exterminate wolves.

The windows are adorned with the paper-cut curtains typical of Lithuania at the time (gifted to the manor by Odeta Bražėnienė, a certified folk craft artisan from Utena). Yet, one also sees items embroidered by local women—bread-oven covers, a small tablecloth, woven towels, crocheted doilies, and cushions—reminders that women have always cherished beauty and created a sense of coziness in the home.